宋代的商業票據制度

唐憲宗元和年間（西元806至820），在京師長安的商人，為了推展與各地區的行銷業務，已開始使用「飛錢」票券，以因應自德宗貞元十四年（789）以來，京師嚴禁銅錢出境的限制。當時的商人只需向各道方鎮節度使駐京的辦事處或長安的富家大戶託存現錢（銅錢），取得一聯「飛錢」票券，作為至京師以外的諸道州縣兌領匯款的憑證，便可「輕裝趨四方」交易買賣，免除搬運笨重銅錢的辛勞與風險。「飛錢」又名「便換」，其性質類似今日的匯票，具有匯兌、支付以及信用工具的功能。唐代「飛錢」的使用，是中國貨幣經濟發展史上的一大進步，也是中國最早的匯兌制度及票據制度的起源。宋代官方發行的商業票據，便是濫觴於「飛錢」便換制度。

In Chinese history, Sung dynasty had more invasions from outside than that of the other dynasties. From early Sung onward, there were wars at northwest borderline. The garrison troops stationed at the three borders of Hopei, Hotung, and Sanshi were always ready to meet and attack an advancing enemy. Therefore, the supply and transportation of the military grains to the border warehouse had become the urgent matter of financial adjustment during Sung dynasty. Although the credit notes and all kinds of checks printed by Sung government serving various purposes, the major function of which was to match the levy and collection of grains policy implemented by Sung emperor during Yungshi period (984~987 A.D.). It was to seek businessmen to deliver the grains to the border countries and states, and the government will issue a credit notes as the credit bond for postpone payment of the grain. The businessmen may take the notes to the Monopoly Bureau of the government at capitol to cash the notes, or to exchange for tea, salt, alumina, etc., national monopoly material specified on the notes. Frankly speaking, the credit notes issued by Sung government as the credit and payment tool with the private businessmen was mainly based on the closely tied between the monopoly policy and the levy and collection law to build. The point this article will investigate is the title and nature of all kinds of commercial checks printed by Sung government, the background of issuance time and the widely application of the commercial checks that had caused positive function to the finance and economics of Sung dynasty.