Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Hotel accommodation - Pawnshops in China

Pawnshops in China

Pawnshops in China are generally believed to have appeared no later than the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Pawnshops have different names in history, such as Dianpu, Pu Jie, Jieku, Quality Ku, Changsheng Ku and Dangkuo, but pawn activities have been popular for a long time. Pawning was very common among the people in Han Dynasty. At that time, Sima Xiangru took his robe to Yang Chang's house in the market to buy wine on credit, and then redeemed it when he had money. Pawnshops in the modern sense appeared in the Southern Dynasties. The pawn industry in China is symbolized by "bats and mice hanging money". Bats are homophonic with "blessing", and money symbolizes profit. The counter of the pawnshop is higher than that of the borrower, who needs to raise the collateral, so the receptionist is called "Chao Feng". Between the gate and the counter, there is a wooden board called "shame mask", as well as a "ticket counter" and a "folding bed" that handle the handover procedures; Pawnshop is a multi-storey building for storing collateral. Because the pawn industry is a high-risk industry, the pawnshop building also has its requirements.

Pawnshops used to worship other unique industry gods, namely, God of Wealth, God of Fire and God of Numbers. Room 1 is dedicated to Vulcan and Vulcan, in order to make money and avoid disasters, to pay tribute to mice and to prevent all kinds of valuable fur, fabrics, silks and satins and cloth from being damaged; Sacrifice Vulcan to prevent fire.

Since the establishment of the government in China, the pawnbroking industry has been regarded as an activity to exploit the people, and it has been banned because of collusion between officials and businessmen. It took more than 30 years for pawnshops to reappear. Relatively speaking, pawn shops in the Soviet era did not disappear, but were nationalized. Chinese mainland 1949 Before the establishment of People's Republic of China (PRC), the pawnbroking industry was very prosperous. In its heyday, there were more than 300 pawn shops in Beijing alone. After 1949, the pawnbroking industry stopped completely.

1987 65438+February, "Chengdu Hua Mao Pawnshop Service" was officially opened in Chengdu, becoming the first pawnshop in Chinese mainland at that time. 1988 Pawnshops appeared in Liaoning, Shanxi, Guangzhou, Shanghai and other places, and Jinbao Pawnshop, the first pawnshop in Beijing, also started its trial operation at the end of 1992.

Now, with the development of economy, Huaxia Pawnshop has entered the era of chain operation, and the famous Huaxia Pawnshop and Shanghai Oriental Pawnshop Co., Ltd. have already entered the chain operation. This shows that China's pawn industry is in a period of rapid development.

The highest monthly interest rate in Chinese mainland is 3%, and the current account can last up to 3 years. The heyday of pawnbroking in Hong Kong and Macao can be divided into three types: pawn, pawn and pawn, among which pawn has disappeared for a long time. Among the three, "pawn" is the largest and most abundant working capital, followed by "mortgage" and "mortgage" is the smallest. The following is the comparison of three pawn modes: when: the working capital and scale are the largest, and the current term is up to three years. Three cents (1.5g) of silver is collected for every one or two (50g) of silver lent.

There is even a rule in the industry that interest rates will be cut every winter, that is, interest rates will be cut for one month every winter (10 to 12).

It is reported that the operating capital and scale are slightly smaller than "when". The current period is up to two years, and the monthly interest rate is three points for every one or two pieces of silver lent. There is no such thing as "reducing profits every winter".

Pledge: the working capital and scale are the smallest, and the current period is up to four months (including normal three-month current period and one-month renewal). Every time you lend one or two silver, you will receive one or two (5 grams), and there is no such thing as "reducing profits every winter". If calculated in Hong Kong dollars, the monthly interest rate is about 1 1%.

At present, Hong Kong and Macao mainly adopt the mode of "mortgage".

There is also a custom in the industry, that is, "being a baby" (also known as "being a person"). This is because some parents are afraid that their baby will not grow up, so they have this move for the safety of their children. Parents who are babies should contact the pawnshop first. At that time, the baby will be taken to the pawnshop, delivered from the window on the left side of the counter, caught by Chao Feng of the pawnshop, and then sent to the manned altar to worship. After that, the ticket inspector will write the words "the roots will grow, grow quickly" on the red paper in the square, cover the corner seal, and then stamp the baby's clothes. The Super Summit will return the baby to the parents from the window on the right. Finally, when the baby's parents give Chaofeng a red envelope. Completed the whole process of "redemption".

(1) Hong Kong pawnbroker

The first legal pawnshop in Hong Kong was built in 1926, because the British Hong Kong government only legislated for pawnshops. After World War II, the pawnbroking industry in Hong Kong entered a prosperous period. There are about 250 pawn shops. Pawnshop customers are rich and poor, and in recent years, even foreign helpers patronize them.

The pawnbroker industry in Hong Kong is regulated by Hong Kong laws such as the Pawnbrokers Ordinance.

(2) Pawnbroking in Macau

The pawnbroking industry in Macao is closely related to the development of the gambling industry. Pawnshops used to be mainly concentrated in Xinma Road, Pishanye Street, Qingpingzhi Street and Banzhangtang. In 1980s and 1990s, it was concentrated in Huochuantou Street, Xinma Road and John IV Avenue, and now it is concentrated in Xingang and Lisboa Hotel. This phenomenon shows that the pawnshops in Macao are concentrated in the most prosperous and closest areas to casinos.

Although the interest rate of "mortgage" is higher than that of "pawn" and "mortgage", the mortgaged items earn more money, so they become a frequent place for gamblers or people in urgent need of cash. Mortgaged items are generally watches, jewelry, ink pens, etc. , similar to the collateral received by pawn shops now.

Since casinos in Macau are open 24 hours a day, many pawnshops in Macau follow the opening hours of casinos and put the words "Open all night" under the signboard, indicating that they will be open all night. Most gamblers who used to go to Macau came from Hong Kong. For the convenience of Hong Kong customers, some pawn shops have also set up a special operation mode of "Macao pawn, Hong Kong take". These pawnbrokers are connected with pawnbrokers in Hong Kong, and they will be sent to pawnbrokers in neighboring ports for redemption as long as customers request them. However, to enjoy this service, you need an extra handling fee. Pawnshops that provide this service will write the words "Hong Kong and Kowloon can pick up the goods" on the door, and some even emphasize "Hong Kong can pick up the goods" next to the signboard to show that the pawnshop can redeem the collateral at the Hong Kong pawnshop entrusted by the pawnshop. On March 2 1 2003, a pawnshop exhibition hall and a pawnshop-themed museum were officially opened.