Sycee in the context of Cantonese language


Sycee in the context of Cantonese language

⭐ Core Definition: Sycee

A sycee (/ˈss, sˈs/; from Cantonese 細絲, Jyutping: Sai3 Si1, lit.'fine silk') or yuanbao (traditional Chinese: 元寶; simplified Chinese: 元宝; pinyin: yuánbǎo; Jyutping: jyun4 bou2; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Goân-pó; lit. 'primary treasure') was a type of gold and silver ingot currency used in imperial China from its founding under the Qin dynasty until the fall of the Qing in the 20th century. Sycee were not made by a central bank or mint but by individual goldsmiths or silversmiths for local exchange; consequently, the shape and amount of extra detail on each ingot were highly variable. Square and oval shapes were common, but boat, flower, tortoise and others are known. Their value—like the value of the various silver coins and little pieces of silver in circulation at the end of the Qing dynasty—was determined by experienced moneyhandlers, who estimated the appropriate discount based on the purity of the silver and evaluated the weight in taels and the progressive decimal subdivisions of the tael (mace, candareen, and cash).

In present-day China, gold sycees remain a symbol of wealth and prosperity and are commonly depicted during the Chinese New Year festivities. Paper imitations of gold- or silver-colored sycees are burned along with hell money as a part of Chinese ancestral veneration for Tomb Sweeping Day and the Ghost Festival.

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Sycee in the context of Bullion

Bullion is non-ferrous metal that has been refined to a high standard of elemental purity. The term is ordinarily applied to bulk metal used in the production of coins and especially to precious metals such as gold and silver. It comes from the Anglo-Norman term for a melting-house where metal was refined, and earlier from French bouillon, "boiling". Although precious metal bullion is no longer used to make coins for general circulation, it continues to be held as an investment with a reputation for stability in periods of economic uncertainty. To assess the purity of gold bullion, the centuries-old technique of fire assay is still employed, together with modern spectroscopic instrumentation, to accurately determine its quality.

Bullion is sometimes contrasted with specie, the latter being coin made of bullion (or synonymously, bullion coin). Thus understood, bullion refers to precious metal kept in forms other than coin, namely bars, ingots, or plates, including regional and historical variants such as grivnas in Eastern Europe or sycees in China.

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Sycee in the context of Gyoza

Jiaozi (simplified Chinese: 饺子; traditional Chinese: 餃子; pinyin: jiǎo zi; [tɕjàʊ.tsɹ̩] ) are a type of Chinese dumpling. Jiaozi typically consist of a ground meat or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together. Jiaozi can be boiled (水餃; shuǐjiǎo), steamed (蒸餃; zhēngjiǎo), pan-fried (煎餃; jiānjiǎo), deep-fried (炸餃; zhàjiǎo), or baked (烤餃; kǎojiǎo), and are traditionally served with a black vinegar and sesame oil dip. They can also be served in a soup (湯餃; tāngjiǎo). Jiaozi have great cultural significance within China. Jiaozi are one of the major dishes eaten during the Chinese New Year throughout northern China and eaten all year round in the northern provinces. Their resemblance to the gold and silver ingots (sycee) used in Imperial China has meant that they symbolize wealth and good fortune.

A Japanese variety of jiaozi is referred to as gyōza. Jiaozi was introduced to Japan by the return of millions of Japanese colonizers from China following the end of World War II (specifically the Second Sino-Japanese War). In the West, pan-fried jiaozi or jianjiao may be referred to as potstickers, derived from the Chinese word guōtiē (鍋貼; 'pot stick'). This is a misnomer, however, as "potsticker" in its original usage in northern China refers to a specific type of dumpling considered distinct from the jiaozi.

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Sycee in the context of Gyōza

Jiaozi or gyoza (simplified Chinese: 饺子; traditional Chinese: 餃子; pinyin: jiǎo zi; [tɕjàʊ.tsɹ̩] ) are a type of Chinese dumpling. Jiaozi typically consist of a ground meat or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together. Jiaozi can be boiled (水餃; shuǐjiǎo), steamed (蒸餃; zhēngjiǎo), pan-fried (煎餃; jiānjiǎo), deep-fried (炸餃; zhàjiǎo), or baked (烤餃; kǎojiǎo), and are traditionally served with a black vinegar and sesame oil dip. They can also be served in a soup (湯餃; tāngjiǎo). Jiaozi have great cultural significance within China. Jiaozi are one of the major dishes eaten during the Chinese New Year throughout northern China and eaten all year round in the northern provinces. Their resemblance to the gold and silver ingots (sycee) used in Imperial China has meant that they symbolize wealth and good fortune.

A Japanese variety of jiaozi is referred to as gyōza. Jiaozi was introduced to Japan by the return of millions of Japanese colonizers from China following the end of World War II (specifically the Second Sino-Japanese War). In the West, pan-fried jiaozi or jianjiao may be referred to as potstickers, derived from the Chinese word guōtiē (鍋貼; 'pot stick'). This is a misnomer, however, as "potsticker" in its original usage in northern China refers to a specific type of dumpling considered distinct from the jiaozi.

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