魏晉南北朝的禁物

The Prohibited Articles in Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties

Jinwu 禁物is similar to what would be called prohibited articles today. The government announced a list of jinwu in Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties. Most of the articles were fur, animal skins, headgear or other ornaments. The royal court in prohibiting these articles had two intentions, to ensure the right of sole use to honor their own status, and to strictly control the border trade and avoid secret communications between their people and enemy countries. Despite the royal court's actions, some nobles and other officials still broke the law by having the royal artisans manufacture these prohibited articles. Most of the raw materials for jinwu were imported through border trade. Viewing from the essential manufacturing process, one could see a connection between border trade and the royal workshops.