Who would you put on the 元？

[paperbagprince23]

One thing that I think is a shame about China is that ALL the bills (save for the 一块 ) all have Chairman Mao on them. i thought it would be kinda fun to think about who you would put on the money if you had the chance.

Here's Mine:

What I could actually see the government doing:

100-毛主席 No way would ever take him off.

50-孙中山 Actually, I think he should be on the 100, but I don't think that would fly with the party

20- 鲁迅 Every park has him, now so will every wallet

10- 邓小平

5- 孔子 He seems to be "making a come back"

1- 五十六个人民 It is still a "Peoples" Country, gotta have them somewhere.

Now for who I would put if I was in control:

100 毛泽东 Say what you will, did a lot for China

50-武則天 I like women in power

20- 庄子 My favorite philosopher; but then again I don't think he would care about being on the money

10- 周恩来 I think simply an amazing person, and sexy in his youth

5- 李白 Need I say more?

1- 五十六个人民 I like them

What about you?

[skylee]

It doesn't have to be "who". Apart from a face, you can put a landmark or a mythical creature (like qilin) or a real animal (like panda) etc on a banknote.

[Hugh]

I'm always surprised 孔子 doesn't make an appearance.

Now for who I would put if I was in control ... What about you?

If I were in control of China, though, it would of course be fitting to put my own ugly mug all over the currency.

[Lu]

100 孙中山, he's the Father of the Nation after all.

50 鲁迅, for obvious reasons

20 秋瑾, more likely to happen than 武则天 and she was also a great character

10 李白 or 李清照 or another poet.

5 Hm... don't know yet

1 孔子, not as an insult but because he's kind of at the base of everything, at 1 kuai everyone will be able to see him go through their hands.

[Kenny同志]

Some of them might not like the idea of being touched every day by people they wouldn't know.

[roddy]

Mao seems to enjoy it.

I'd have 马三立 on every one, getting older as face value increases.

[skylee]

Some of them might not like the idea of being touched every day by people they wouldn't know.

But they wouldn't know it, right?

[Kenny同志]

Hehe, yeah, that's true.

[paperbagprince23]

It doesn't have to be "who". Apart from a face, you can put a landmark or a mythical creature (like qilin) or a real animal (like panda) etc on a banknote.

True, and I think qilin would look kick ass on some money; but I would put it on one side, and have a person on the other. I think a panda would be waaaayyyy to cheesy though.

I was just thinking it'd be funny to have a 三毛 coin with the writers likeness on it.

[WestTexas]

how about a bunch of reinforced concrete buildings?

But no, I would keep Mao on the 100, and put 邓小平 on the 50. On the other notes, I wouldn't use specific people, so maybe one of them could have like, a group of soldiers in a really epic pose. Another one could have like group of workers looking really heroic while using shovels or jackhammers. Another one could have the Shanghai skyline, and they could put that anti-counterfeit reflective ink on some of the buildings.

[liuzhou]

The most recently issued note, the Olympic ¥10 didn't feature Mao

Also, there was a planned issue of a ¥500 note. A proposed design was even briefly circulated.

[roddy]

That's not an official design though, is it? Would kind of ruin their 'no plans for a 500Y note' stance.

[liuzhou]

As I recall, it was issued officially, then hastily withdrawn. I could, however, be wrong.

[roddy]

I'd wager you're wrong - no minority languages for a start.

[liuzhou]

You are probably right. Anyway, still a useful contribution to the point at hand, methinks.

[roddy]

Aye. And I love the way he's gazing lovingly at the 500Y denomination - seeing the fruits of 改革开放 right there . . .

[paperbagprince23]

The most recently issued note, the Olympic ¥10 didn't feature Mao]

Wow! I lived in Beijing for 2 years right after the Olympics and Iv'e never even seen that one. How common are they? I wonder if after they were released people horded them for collectors items?

I got my hands on a 1980's Kuai once. The woman at the pharmacy was trying to buy something with it, but the cashier refused it. I told her to trade me, which she did. They thought i was crazy, but I loved it. But...i seem to have lost it! oh well.

[imron]

How common are they?

They were released as a limited edition commemorative note. They aren't common, and I'll wager most people haven't seen one unless they lined up to buy one on they day they became available.