In our daily lives, we often hear the term "selling guanzi", which vividly depicts those who deliberately create suspense or deceit at critical moments in order to control or influence others. However, have you ever wondered what kind of mysterious thing "Guanzi" is, and why can it be "sold"?
In fact, the original meaning of the word "selling guanzi" is related to a valuable ** - guanzi in the Southern Song Dynasty. In the first year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1131), the Southern Song Dynasty garrisoned troops in Wuzhou, and in order to meet the material needs of the Wuzhou garrison, a valuable one called "Guanzi" was printed. Merchants can exchange money for Guanzi in Wuzhou, and then go to the capital Lin'an to exchange copper coins or salt, tea and other items. This kind of "guanzi" is similar to the bill of lading of modern maritime cargo**, although it is not a currency in itself, but it plays an intermediary role in the transaction.
In the beginning, the meaning of "selling guanzi" may simply mean not directly delivering the goods, but adding a link where you can get the guanzi first, and then go to exchange it for what you need. Over time, the meaning of the term evolved to describe actions that are deliberately not straightforward in words or actions, but instead create a sense of suspense or mystery.
Guanzi, similar to the Jiaozi that appeared in the Sichuan region of China during the Northern Song Dynasty, is a symbol of currency, but not the currency itself. The emergence of Guanzi is undoubtedly an innovation in the history of China's monetary development, and its existence not only enriches our trading methods, but also adds a vivid and vivid word to our language and culture - "selling Guanzi".
Nowadays, whenever we use this word, we can't help but think of that era of wisdom and wit, and those unique cultural symbols that have gradually settled down in the long course of history.