How Beans Became Currency in Feudal Japan
Imagine a world where currency wasn’t made of gold or silver, but of beans. Yes, beans. A simple grain common in daily cuisine came to be worth as much as precious metals in feudal Japan. How is this possible? What leads a society to entrust its economy to a perishable food item? Would we be talking about scarcity, political power, or a brilliant economic control strategy? And what if I told you that beans not only fed people but also financed wars, built temples, and determined who was rich or poor? In 15th and 16th century Japan, a period of fragmentation, feudal lords known as daimo competed for territory and prestige. In this unstable scenario, a currency needed to be universal, accepted by all. And surprisingly, beans became exactly that. But this story isn’t as simple as it seems. Beans became more than just a commodity. They became a symbol of power, resistance, and survival. Prepare to learn about the surprising journey of a grain that fed empires and sustained economies. Because sometimes the value of a currency lies less in the metal and more in the trust. And in feudal Japan, that trust was a bean. To understand how beans transformed into currency in feudal Japan, we need to delve into the Senoku period approximately 1467 to603. One of the most chaotic and violent eras in Japanese history. It was a time of constant warfare between clans and feudal lords known as daimo who fought for control of land and power. The emperor existed but had little authority. The real control lay in the hands of these regional leaders. Amid this political and economic instability, the use of rice as a form of payment was already common. Rice was the staple of the Japanese diet and a symbol of wealth. But there was a problem. Rice was extremely valuable, making it impractical for small transactions. It was like trying to buy a candy bar with a gold ingot. There was a need for something smaller, divisible, and equally reliable. It is in this context that beans enter the scene. More specifically, soybeans and azuki beans, grains commonly used in Japanese meals and rituals. These beans began to be used in local commercial exchanges, especially in agricultural regions where production was abundant. They had clear advantages. They were lightweight, could be stored for some time, and were accepted by farmers, merchants, and even warriors. Buddhist temples which had enormous influence over the people and the land also played a crucial role. Many of them received beans as a form of tribute and tithe reinforcing their symbolic and economic value. In some regions, beans were literally counted, stored, and redistributed as if they were official currency, which in practice made them a local unit of value. Another crucial factor was monetary decentralization. Japan did not have a unified coinage system during this period. Many regions minted their own currencies or used ancient Chinese coins. In other words, money was anything that could be trusted. And surprisingly, beans fit this role perfectly. Contrary to what one might imagine, this vegetable currency was not an aberration. It was a logical response to the practical needs of a society in constant flux. Beans became an effective alternative to rice, especially during times of scarcity or in local transactions. They were quite literally edible money. And sometimes eating was more valuable than saving. The use of beans as currency in feudal Japan not only reflected the local economy, it directly influenced political decisions, war strategies, and even religious practices. Over time, the powerful daimo realized that controlling the production and distribution of these grains was a form of power. After all, he who controls the currency controls the people. In some provinces, massive warehouses were constructed solely to store beans. These places functioned as primitive banks where farmers could deposit their grains and receive deposit receipts. These receipts began to circulate as promisory notes foreshadowing the modern concept of paper money. In other words, beans were the backing and the papers represented their value. This allowed for safer transactions without the physical transport of food, which was essential during times of war or instability. There are records indicating that during certain military campaigns, generals and samurai received partial payment in beans, not only to feed the soldiers, but also to ensure their loyalty. It was a currency that met the most immediate needs, staving off hunger and negotiating supplies. Religiously, beans also played a curious role. Setsubun, a traditional Japanese festival held to ward off evil spirits, involves throwing soybeans while shouting oniasoto fuku wauchi, demons out, luck in. This symbolism helped reinforce the ritualistic value of beans and by extension their legitimacy as currency. But like any alternative currency, beans had their risks. They were perishable, susceptible to pests and weather. A poor harvest could cause inflation and overp production devaluation. During wartime, attacks on bean fields or warehouses were deliberate strategies to destabilize entire regions. Even so, the system worked for decades. The collective trust in the utility of beans was so immense that in many villages, metallic coins were not used for years. This model only began to lose momentum with the onset of Japan’s unification under the command of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomy Hideoshi, and ultimately Tokugawa. With the centralization of power came also the standardization of currency. Nevertheless, the legacy of beans as currency did not disappear. It survived in agricultural practices, cultural traditions, and popular expressions. And it shows us something important. Money is above all a social construct. It doesn’t matter if it comes in gold, paper, or beans. If everyone believes in its value, it works. And in feudal Japan, this belief was taken so seriously that even the humblest grain became a symbol of power. The history of beans as currency in feudal Japan invites us to a powerful reflection on the true value of money. After all, what makes something valuable? Is it the material it’s made of? the backing of the state or is it simply the collective trust that it has value? In 15th and 16th century Japan, a simple grain became one of the pillars of the local economy. It fed people, paid debts, financed armies, and sustained temples. It was practical, accessible, and symbolic. And even with all its risks, perishability, fluctuations in supply, attacks on crops, the bean proved that a currency can be born out of necessity, creativity, and social acceptance. Today, in times of cryptocurrencies, digital tokens, and increasingly virtual economies, it’s interesting to remember that money has taken many forms, and perhaps we are merely reinventing old ideas with new technologies. If in the past the bean was the backing, today it’s the algorithm. But the principle remains the same trust. The case of the Japanese bean also shows us how different cultures can create unique economic solutions adapted to their reality. And how in moments of crisis or transition, humans are capable of finding value where it’s least expected. And you had you ever heard of beans as currency? What do you think of the idea that money can be anything as long as everyone believes in its value? Leave your opinion in the comments. It might inspire a future video. If this content surprised you, subscribe to the Enriching World channel. Like and share with someone who loves history and economics. Here, each video is a journey through the currencies, riches, and strategies that have shaped the world. And if you’ve made it this far, thank you. Get ready because the next video might be even more unusual. From coffee beans used as salary to giant stones as a store of value. After all, when it comes to money, nothing is as simple as it seems.
Have you ever imagined using beans as money? It may seem strange today, but in feudal Japan, it was a reality. In this video from the Mundo Enriquecedor channel, you’ll discover how a simple grain—the bean—took on the role of currency, payment of tributes, and even salary for samurai warriors during the most turbulent period in Japanese history.
During the turbulent Sengoku period (15th and 16th centuries), Japan was divided by wars between clans and feudal lords. Central authority was weak, and the economy was regionalized. In this context, while rice was the measure of wealth for the great lords, beans emerged as a practical, fractionable currency accessible to the common people.
You’ll understand how grains like azuki and soybeans became accepted in markets, temples, and battlefields. We also show how warehouses functioned as banks, storing beans and issuing deposit receipts that circulated as money. We also reveal the symbolic impact of beans in religious rituals such as Setsubun, where they were used to ward off evil spirits.
But why beans? And how did they compete with metal coins and even rice, which was considered the true “white gold” of the time? The answer lies in collective trust and the practical need for an accessible, transportable, and useful currency. Beans met all these needs—and what’s more: they also provided nourishment.
In this video you will find:
The origins of beans as currency in Japan
The role of Buddhist temples and feudal lords
How beans were used to pay soldiers
The transition from beans to standardized metal coins
Connections between past and present: What can beans teach us about cryptocurrencies, social currencies, and inflation?
With a compelling narrative and cinematic visuals, this episode is more than a history lesson—it’s a journey through the workings of an alternative and creative economy. You’ll be surprised to realize that the value of money isn’t in its material aspects, but in what an entire society chooses to believe.
🔔 If you enjoy historical curiosities, alternative economics, and little-known stories that shaped the world, subscribe to the Enriching World channel. Every week, new videos with fascinating stories about currencies, empires, financial strategies, and the inner workings of power.
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