Many coins are hard to identify due to the lack of historical records or unclear descriptions. However, coin inscriptions of different dynasties have their features, especially Western Han and Six Dynasties coins. As for the inscriptions that are not so exquisite as those on the coins of the Western Han and the Six Dynasties, they are the Eastern Han coins and the Tsin dynasty wu zhu [五銖] coins. After examining this coin carefully, I found it is slightly thinner, the edge is broader, the inscription is flat, and the first stroke of the right part zhu [銖] in the character zhu [銖] is smooth. Its inscription style seems to be inferior to that of coins in the Guangwu Emperor's reign but superior to that of coins in the Lingwu Emperor's reign. I assume that it is made during the Minghuan Emperor's reign. The Eastern Han dynasty lasted 110 years and has 9 emperors from Mingdi Emperor to Huandi Emperor. Though there is no exact record of casting coins, it is known that Yanzhang Emperor and Hedi Emperor ordered to stop casting coins. Therefore, there were few coins cast during their reigns. As for coins unearthed from the mausoleum of the Andi Emperor which was built in 125 A.D., there is no doubt that they are all wu zhu coins cast in the Minghuan Emperor's reign in the Eastern Han dynasty. The above is my opinion. What do you think?
This spring, I was bedridden for a few months with a cold that turned into pneumonia. During my illness, I got a copy of the Far Eastern Coin Catalog sent by Arthur Coole in Peking. After reading, I was deeply impressed by the abundance of his collection and the excellence of the catalog's content. The catalog is properly arranged, and easy to refer to. It involves four parts, with Chinese numismatic writers and their writings in one part, and writings by Europeans and Americans in another. At the end of the catalog, all coins mentioned in the catalog are listed in Roman alphabetical order, which was not seen in any other catalog published before. The author of the catalog has been keen on coins for many years. When he published a book about the history of Chinese currencies in 1939 in Tianjin, I wrote a review for his book. Recently, he has made research even more diligently to produce a work for the reference of following researchers. Since last winter, we have written much correspondence to communicate. Though I am willing to co-author a book with him, it is difficult to realize due to the long distance and the hard times. How can I concentrate on writing when worrying about my livelihood? The recent correspondence between us is attached for readers' review.
A Letter From Chang Kwun-Peh To Rev. Coole
 Rev. Coole |
 Chang Kwun-Peh |
April 27th 1940
30, Ruo Molioro
Shanghai
Dear Rev. Coole,
I must beg your pardon for the inexcusable long delay in answering your letter of January 4.Since the middle of March, however, I fell a victim to the late influenza with a serious attack of pneumonia. Only recently could I get up but am still too weak. Thank you so much for the present of your recent book which I received only yesterday and which gave me a complete surprise of its much earlier publication than expected. After a glance over the contents, I cannot but admire your splendid method of compilation rendering utmost facilities to the reader of whatever he wants to find as to either the author or his work or the date of the coin. It can be well imagined how much pains you have taking in collecting these materials to fill the contents, and I may claim that only a fellow-student of my standing who really understands the amount of time and energy you have spent on this, so my appreciation of your studious work shall be taking without reserve.
Now you have gathered almost a complete list of the works on the Far Eastern numismatics covering the whole field from the Sung dynasty down to the present day, as well as the union index which provides to find out the date of the coin, I might say we must go a step further as to the sorting of the existing materials by means of scientific methods. In your list of 392 books in section B, under the title of numismatic works in Chinese, after a hasty glance, I found there is quite a number of duplication, several only existed in name, some has nothing to do with numismatics and to be strict, over seventy per cent of the books among your list could be entirely discarded without regret, a few of them being so preposterousthat ought to be eliminated by burning, such ones as listed No's 145 and 246. I may say I have read most of those books in existence and found them generally contain nothing but rubbish, in other words, they are made up of fabrications, fakes, wrong quotations, misrepresentations, imaginations, superstitions and terrible omissions. Furthermore, you will also find the same rubbish repeated again and again from one book to another just waste of time to go through one by one. Thus, it appears as if the past works supplied us with vast resources of materials for our study and reference, whereas strictly speaking, they gave as but very little of real worth. But, of course, there are some very good ones especially those written by various authors after the reign of Chia Ching. To do justice, those authors like 初渭園 (Chu Wei-yuan), 翁宜泉 (Wen Yi-quan), 劉燕庭 (Liu Yan-ting) and later on 鮑子年 (Bao Zi-nian), 胡石查 (Hu Shi-cha), 王廉生 (Wang Lian-sheng) had made several new discoveries and corrections. Their contributions to the numismatics world are considered to be considerable and praiseworthy.
I have so many things to suggest to and to discuss with you that I am at a loss what and where to start with, and it is impossible to be carried out in correspondence. I am afraid I may criticize too much just as you say, "Critics there are in abundance, but constrictive, hardworking authors like Terrien de Lacouperie are few and far between in the field of numismatics." I must confess, not to mention most of the past works, there are very few contemporary authors that actually gave me satisfaction in their writings. I have not enough time to read through this
new work of yours but after a rough glance, you have already won my admiration particularly as to the novel method of compilation and your assiduous collection of so great amount of materials. With regard to Dr. Ting Fu Pao's works, especially his Encyclopedia, I can't help criticizing again for though it looks rather voluminous yet after close examination, it is only a change of order with totally lack of new ideas as what we call changing the bottle without changing the medicine.
During this period of transition in China, it is inevitable to have to types of scholars with different school of thoughts in any field of knowledge, i.e. old and new, and I trust you know well how to discriminate between the two. Last spring, on the completion of the supplement to his encyclopedia, Dr. Ting asked me to write a preface which I did accordingly. In the preface, I tried to draw a distinction between the meaning of, (泉) and (錢) by tracing to its very origin of the respective derivation. Unfortunately, it happened to be disagreeable to Dr. Ting, the whole paragraph was cut off without my knowledge and he also submitted the word (錢) for (泉) throughout the preface. So he did even to the names of books as he changed (古泉匯) into (古)(錢匯) whenever he referred to in his encyclopedia.
So far as no distinction has ever been drawn between these two terms. In Dr. Ting's supplement, some definitions were made but most ambiguous and vague. You seem to be confounded as well at their meaning and think they are interchangeable. As a matter of fact, sometimes they are and sometimes not, because both have their independent derivations. The word (泉) was adopted immediately after the invention of metallic coins to indicate the circulation of money as compared with the spring that goes wherever it flows. Undisputedly, this word was earlier used to denote money. Besides, (泉) is a general term while (錢) is a special term. You may call metallic money of whatever shape and form either a spade-coin, a knife coin or a round coin by the term of (泉) but the term of (錢) is only limited to the scope of coins of round shape with round or square hole. Take for instance the modern coinage of the copper coin, we used to call (銅幣) or (銅元) or even by a more familiar term (銅板) or (銅子) but never (銅錢) to show the last term is exclusively applied to the square hole cash alone.
With the arrival of several numismatists from different parts of China recently, a proposition was made to issue a magazine and at a meeting $2000 was collected to serve as sinking fund. Everything was done during my illness. Now they came for my advice. I suggested, in the first place, that it is not difficult to make a start but the question is how to make it last. In the second place, sound financial condition is of course important, while the richness of contents should be paid greater attention. Thirdly, this magazine should be served as a medium to invite the cooperation of the professors of various universities. It is now under organization and the first issue may appear in June. It is not yet decided whether it is going to be monthly or bymonthly. I was again asked to write an introduction to manifest the main object of issuing this magazine. I have also contributed another article dealing with the definitions of the various monetary terms at which I wish to invite your criticism after perusal. I will surely send you the first copy as soon as it is out.
As regards Section H, it is evident you tried hard so as to make the index as complete as possible by listing all the names of coins recorded in the various works. The result is that you have unknowingly included all fictitious coins, fakes, and those that have never been in existence, most likely to mislead or to deceive the beginners and keen collectors. This is what I mentioned in my last letter not to spend your effort in vain. I will make more suggestions when I shall have time to carefully look through your book. Thank you again.
I must beg your pardon for the inexcusable long delay in answering your letter of January 4.Since the middle of March, however, I fell a victim to the late influenza with a serious attack of pneumonia. Only recently could I get up but am still too weak. Thank you so much for the present of your recent book which I received only yesterday and which gave me a complete surprise of its much earlier publication than expected. After a glance over the contents, I cannot but admire your splendid method of compilation rendering utmost facilities to the reader of whatever he wants to find as to either the author or his work or the date of the coin. It can be well imagined how much pains you have taking in collecting these materials to fill the contents, and I may claim that only a fellow-student of my standing who really understands the amount of time and energy you have spent on this, so my appreciation of your studious work shall be taking without reserve.
Now you have gathered almost a complete list of the works on the Far Eastern numismatics covering the whole field from the Sung dynasty down to the present day, as well as the union index which provides to find out the date of the coin, I might say we must go a step further as to the sorting of the existing materials by means of scientific methods. In your list of 392 books in section B, under the title of numismatic works in Chinese, after a hasty glance, I found there is quite a number of duplication, several only existed in name, some has nothing to do with numismatics and to be strict, over seventy per cent of the books among your list could be entirely discarded without regret, a few of them being so preposterousthat ought to be eliminated by burning, such ones as listed No's 145 and 246. I may say I have read most of those books in existence and found them generally contain nothing but rubbish, in other words, they are made up of fabrications, fakes, wrong quotations, misrepresentations, imaginations, superstitions and terrible omissions. Furthermore, you will also find the same rubbish repeated again and again from one book to another just waste of time to go through one by one. Thus, it appears as if the past works supplied us with vast resources of materials for our study and reference, whereas strictly speaking, they gave as but very little of real worth. But, of course, there are some very good ones especially those written by various authors after the reign of Chia Ching. To do justice, those authors like 初渭園 (Chu Wei-yuan), 翁宜泉 (Wen Yi-quan), 劉燕庭 (Liu Yan-ting) and later on 鮑子年 (Bao Zi-nian), 胡石查 (Hu Shi-cha), 王廉生 (Wang Lian-sheng) had made several new discoveries and corrections. Their contributions to the numismatics world are considered to be considerable and praiseworthy.
I have so many things to suggest to and to discuss with you that I am at a loss what and where to start with, and it is impossible to be carried out in correspondence. I am afraid I may criticize too much just as you say, "Critics there are in abundance, but constrictive, hardworking authors like Terrien de Lacouperie are few and far between in the field of numismatics." I must confess, not to mention most of the past works, there are very few contemporary authors that actually gave me satisfaction in their writings. I have not enough time to read through this
new work of yours but after a rough glance, you have already won my admiration particularly as to the novel method of compilation and your assiduous collection of so great amount of materials. With regard to Dr. Ting Fu Pao's works, especially his Encyclopedia, I can't help criticizing again for though it looks rather voluminous yet after close examination, it is only a change of order with totally lack of new ideas as what we call changing the bottle without changing the medicine.
During this period of transition in China, it is inevitable to have to types of scholars with different school of thoughts in any field of knowledge, i.e. old and new, and I trust you know well how to discriminate between the two. Last spring, on the completion of the supplement to his encyclopedia, Dr. Ting asked me to write a preface which I did accordingly. In the preface, I tried to draw a distinction between the meaning of, (泉) and (錢) by tracing to its very origin of the respective derivation. Unfortunately, it happened to be disagreeable to Dr. Ting, the whole paragraph was cut off without my knowledge and he also submitted the word (錢) for (泉) throughout the preface. So he did even to the names of books as he changed (古泉匯) into (古)(錢匯) whenever he referred to in his encyclopedia.
So far as no distinction has ever been drawn between these two terms. In Dr. Ting's supplement, some definitions were made but most ambiguous and vague. You seem to be confounded as well at their meaning and think they are interchangeable. As a matter of fact, sometimes they are and sometimes not, because both have their independent derivations. The word (泉) was adopted immediately after the invention of metallic coins to indicate the circulation of money as compared with the spring that goes wherever it flows. Undisputedly, this word was earlier used to denote money. Besides, (泉) is a general term while (錢) is a special term. You may call metallic money of whatever shape and form either a spade-coin, a knife coin or a round coin by the term of (泉) but the term of (錢) is only limited to the scope of coins of round shape with round or square hole. Take for instance the modern coinage of the copper coin, we used to call (銅幣) or (銅元) or even by a more familiar term (銅板) or (銅子) but never (銅錢) to show the last term is exclusively applied to the square hole cash alone.
With the arrival of several numismatists from different parts of China recently, a proposition was made to issue a magazine and at a meeting $2000 was collected to serve as sinking fund. Everything was done during my illness. Now they came for my advice. I suggested, in the first place, that it is not difficult to make a start but the question is how to make it last. In the second place, sound financial condition is of course important, while the richness of contents should be paid greater attention. Thirdly, this magazine should be served as a medium to invite the cooperation of the professors of various universities. It is now under organization and the first issue may appear in June. It is not yet decided whether it is going to be monthly or bymonthly. I was again asked to write an introduction to manifest the main object of issuing this magazine. I have also contributed another article dealing with the definitions of the various monetary terms at which I wish to invite your criticism after perusal. I will surely send you the first copy as soon as it is out.
As regards Section H, it is evident you tried hard so as to make the index as complete as possible by listing all the names of coins recorded in the various works. The result is that you have unknowingly included all fictitious coins, fakes, and those that have never been in existence, most likely to mislead or to deceive the beginners and keen collectors. This is what I mentioned in my last letter not to spend your effort in vain. I will make more suggestions when I shall have time to carefully look through your book. Thank you again.
I am
Yours faithfully
Yours faithfully
A Letter From Rev. Coole To Chang Kwun-Peh
May 2,1940
30 Rue Moliere
Shanghai
30 Rue Moliere
Shanghai
Dear Dr. Chang,
Thanks for your letter of April 27th. I was very sorry to hear that you had been laid up with influenza and pneumonia and hope that you are rapidly picking up strength once more.
I thoroughly enjoy your letters because they have a tang to them that is produced from a keen knowledge of the subject. There seems to be some doubt in your mind about some questions that have been inserted in this book of mine. However, there are two types of bibliographies and both of them are scientific. The one is a selective bibliography and in your criticisms you are think of this type exclusively. But there is another type and it is the general bibliography and index. In this type all materials are included that are available and are in sorted whether or not the material is of the AA class or not. This work of mine is a general bibliography and index, and should, therefore, include everything given, whether or not I as the author approve of it or not.
My preface starts with this paragraph, “This work has been prepared primarily as the foundation for a future scientific study.” At no place do I claim that this book is a selective bibliography, in which only the few highest class works are to be included. And when it comes to duplication I will admit that there probably are some. I have stated that clearly on page 92 and would like your help and that of other authorities in eliminating these duplications in any future edition. However, with the information available in Peking I could not definitely state that some of these were duplications, although I strongly believed them to be such.
Now, as to the matter of 70% of the books listed being rubbish. I am not so sure of the percentage, but undoubtedly many of these books listed are weak sisters and the world would have been better off without their stack of misrepresentations. But once more I claim that they should be inserted in a general bibliography because there are such books in existence and this is not a selective bibliography. When I come to a scientific study of any of the actual coins then it will be time enough to disregard this rubbish heap.
Your remarks about Dr. Ting Fu-Pao's works are well taken. To a great extent his book (240) is as you say, "changing the bottle without changing the medicine."
You seem to think that I am puzzled about the terms ch'ien (錢) and ch'uan (泉), but I think not. On page 92 I said, "In some cases the word Ch'uan (泉) and Ch’ien (錢) have been used interchangeably in titles, to wit:--" This does not say that I agree with that idea. Again it is just stating a fact that is evident in what you say about Ting Fu-Pao. Of the English works Hopkins, Ramsden and Lockhart all claim that ch'ien (錢) originally was the term used for the round coins with square holes and they refer to the K'ang Hsi Dictionary as one of the sources of their information. You will note that the Chinese title of my book is the Yuan Yung Chu' an P'u K'ao (泉譜考) and not "Ch'ien P'u K'ao". I have note this differentiation for some years, and am glad that you are trying to emphasize it. Of course, in recent usage, the word Ch'ien (錢) is used for all types of money since the "cash" have gone out of existence. In the north, at least, they speak of hsien ch'ien (現錢) as coins and bank-notes in contradistinction to checks and drafts. But this development in the use of that term is comparatively new historically.
Now as to your criticism of Section H being too all-inclusive. You state, "The result is that you have unknowingly included all fictitious coins, fakes, and those that have never been in existence. Most likely to mislead or to deceive the beginners and keen collectors". I think this criticism is entirely beyond the point and shows a lack of appreciation on your part of what a general index is. Again you are thinking of a "selective index." Please note this paragraph on page 270 (paragraph) 4: "The author does not vouch for the fact that every item listed here is actually a coin and not a charm, or an amulet. All he does is record what the individual book, or books, quoted list as a coin. In some cases one book lists a coin, while another book lists the same thing as an amulet. If it is given as a coin it is listed as such, and if listed as a charm or amulet it is listed as such. Further research needs to be made to determine the accuracy of some of these cases."
In short, this index is bringing to a focal point all pieces called coins by all of the authors, or only by one or two authors. It has chaff as well as grain. There they stand-named one by one. And now let us refer to the first sentence in the preface once:"This work has been prepared primarily as the foundation for a future scientific study of the coins, paper currency, charms and amulets, and commemorative issues of the Far East from the standpoint of the numismatic field." I believe that if the fakes and others are not mentioned that in the future some folks will find these mentioned in some books and think they have a "find" and will once more think they are coins. Here we have them listed and from this vantage ground a future scientific study can knock out the fakes and charms. This work of mine presupposes that a genuine study of each item listed will be made the truth brought out of the present fog of misunderstanding and doubt. I hope that you will see the purpose of this new work of mine. It is only a gathering together of all materials so far put out on the subject and lumps the good and bad, the genuine and false, the doubtful and the known in one GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY AND GENERAL UNION INDEX (not selective) so that scholars will have a solid foundation on which to work. There it is. Now the task is to search out item and separate the real metal from the dross. As far as I know such a thing has never been done before. But now, as fellow students of this interesting subject, let us set to work and produce something that will stand out as a monument to truth and knowledge. The foundation is laid. Now for the building of the superstructure and the production of a beautiful edifice.
Am sorry that I did not get your name spelled the way you are used to spelling it, but in as much as you never signed your full name I did not know the southern spelling. The Romanization given is the Wade system which is the most universally used at the present time in the Kuo Yu.
I am mailing you a special copy of my book which has a blank leaf between each printed one and the next one. I had four copies bound like this and have planned to loan you one copy, one to Mr. H.F. Bowker and one to Kozono and one I keep here for my own notes. The idea is to have you men write in any additional information you have, or suggested corrections, and then before getting out another edition I shall request you men to send me back the books with corrections and additions so that a future edition will be much better. Mr. Bowker has been deeply interested in such a study, and the same applies to Mr. H. Kozono. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give along this line. By seeking for the highest type of scholarship I believe that we can revolt against the old errors and bring in something new and vastly more worthwhile. Looking over the whole field of scholars interested in this particular subject than the others. I am not kicking others, but am looking for the best that there is to be found.
In closing may I once more repeat that the recent work is a General Bibliography and a General Index and thus includes everything-good, bad or indifferent. If I have made a Selective Bibliography and Index it would have been selective. In short, items have not been "unknowingly" inserted to "mislead" or to "deceive". American graduate schools teach one to make a general index first and then after years of study one is able to make a selective index or bibliography.
Thanks again for your letter. I enjoy them very much.
Sincerely
A Letter From Chang Kwun-Peh To Rev. Coole
30 Rue Moliere
Shanghai,
May 10th 1940
Shanghai,
May 10th 1940
Dear Rev. Coole,
Your letter of May 2nd and the separate mail of your book have been duly received. Your explanation about the difference between general and selective is so clear as to leave no room for misunderstanding. You have, indeed, rendered a great service to the English speaking numismatic circle by supplying with such a ground work for their future scientific study. In my opinion, a book of selective nature is, however, of much greater importance but naturally ten times more difficult and this responsibility seems again to fall on your shoulders. You compare the existing materials as chaff among grain or metal from the dross. I would say it resembles particles of gold in the midst of vast sand.
China having such a long history of coinage, with the number of specimens running to tens of thousands from knife and spade coins down to machine-made silver and copper pieces, you can well imagine how necessary it is to have a complete knowledge of distinction as well as Chinese history so as to be able to tell genuine from false, the date and place of any coin and to put each in its proper order by judging from its legend and shape. You say you will disregard the rubbish heap when you come to the scientific study of the actual coins, and I believe that no sooner have you acquired a fair knowledge of actual specimens than you will be convinced that my estimation of 70 per cent is rather conservative.
Our predecessors had never made the study of numismatics on the basic principles of money, but used to treat it as a sideline of bronze ware, a kind of antiques, laying over emphasis on the legends and shapes while ignoring the monetary value of the coin with the result that ridiculous mistakes and terrible omissions were made here and there in the historical records. Some authors went so far as to give a fictitious coin to every emperor of the mythical ages.
What a job you have assigned me as to fill the four hundred odd pages of your book with comments and suggestions! Well, I will do so with all my heart, but you must allow me ample time as I have to go through page by page. I think I shall be able to give you some additional information with the result of my thirty years' experience and make some corrections of such conspicuous errors as on page 51, No.225, (宜泉比部) is not the name of a book, (宜泉) was a secondary name of (翁樹培), an official title addressed to him. On page 87, No.380, the name of the books is (鹽錢論) not (鹽錢論), it consisting about sixty odd chapters, discourse on salt and iron, a debate between the secretary of state and a number of literati in Han dynasty. This a book dealing in question of state control of the said two commodities, having little to do with currency. Refer to Journal of N.C. branch of Royal Asiatic Society Vol. LXIII and LXV.
Your ultimate object of producing a beautiful edifice on a solid foundation is admirable and I am ready to render you whatever assistance possible. I have been dreaming to do it for the last twenty years but partly adverse circumstances prevented me from carrying it out, and partly it really takes long, long time to gather adequate materials from sources other than the rotten old records and to collect the rubbings of genuine specimens. I also realize such a heavy task cannot be done singlehanded and so I am seeking from time to time somebody whom I may cooperate with. I sincerely hope someday in the future, when the war is over, we can sit together and work on it for a period of say a year or two, and then it is to my firm belief, we shall be able to produce something that will stand out as a monument to truth and knowledge just as you say. Where there is a will, there is a way. I am on the way of recovery, but I still have to be very careful.
Your letter of May 2nd and the separate mail of your book have been duly received. Your explanation about the difference between general and selective is so clear as to leave no room for misunderstanding. You have, indeed, rendered a great service to the English speaking numismatic circle by supplying with such a ground work for their future scientific study. In my opinion, a book of selective nature is, however, of much greater importance but naturally ten times more difficult and this responsibility seems again to fall on your shoulders. You compare the existing materials as chaff among grain or metal from the dross. I would say it resembles particles of gold in the midst of vast sand.
China having such a long history of coinage, with the number of specimens running to tens of thousands from knife and spade coins down to machine-made silver and copper pieces, you can well imagine how necessary it is to have a complete knowledge of distinction as well as Chinese history so as to be able to tell genuine from false, the date and place of any coin and to put each in its proper order by judging from its legend and shape. You say you will disregard the rubbish heap when you come to the scientific study of the actual coins, and I believe that no sooner have you acquired a fair knowledge of actual specimens than you will be convinced that my estimation of 70 per cent is rather conservative.
Our predecessors had never made the study of numismatics on the basic principles of money, but used to treat it as a sideline of bronze ware, a kind of antiques, laying over emphasis on the legends and shapes while ignoring the monetary value of the coin with the result that ridiculous mistakes and terrible omissions were made here and there in the historical records. Some authors went so far as to give a fictitious coin to every emperor of the mythical ages.
What a job you have assigned me as to fill the four hundred odd pages of your book with comments and suggestions! Well, I will do so with all my heart, but you must allow me ample time as I have to go through page by page. I think I shall be able to give you some additional information with the result of my thirty years' experience and make some corrections of such conspicuous errors as on page 51, No.225, (宜泉比部) is not the name of a book, (宜泉) was a secondary name of (翁樹培), an official title addressed to him. On page 87, No.380, the name of the books is (鹽錢論) not (鹽錢論), it consisting about sixty odd chapters, discourse on salt and iron, a debate between the secretary of state and a number of literati in Han dynasty. This a book dealing in question of state control of the said two commodities, having little to do with currency. Refer to Journal of N.C. branch of Royal Asiatic Society Vol. LXIII and LXV.
Your ultimate object of producing a beautiful edifice on a solid foundation is admirable and I am ready to render you whatever assistance possible. I have been dreaming to do it for the last twenty years but partly adverse circumstances prevented me from carrying it out, and partly it really takes long, long time to gather adequate materials from sources other than the rotten old records and to collect the rubbings of genuine specimens. I also realize such a heavy task cannot be done singlehanded and so I am seeking from time to time somebody whom I may cooperate with. I sincerely hope someday in the future, when the war is over, we can sit together and work on it for a period of say a year or two, and then it is to my firm belief, we shall be able to produce something that will stand out as a monument to truth and knowledge just as you say. Where there is a will, there is a way. I am on the way of recovery, but I still have to be very careful.
Yours sincerely
Originally published in the first issue of Chuan Pi of the China Numismatic Society, in July 1940.