History·31 March 2026·4 min read
The yuan — currency of the oldest monetary civilization
China invented paper money and some of the first coins. Today the yuan wants a seat next to the dollar.
The yuan (renminbi) is the currency of China, the country that invented paper money a thousand years ago. The name "yuan", like "yen", means "round object".
Global ambition
As China became the world's second economy, the yuan began competing for the role of international currency, alongside the dollar and euro. Monetary history is still being written.
