Ryo
/rjoʊ/noun
A former Japanese monetary unit used chiefly during the Edo period, commonly represented as ryō.
Did you know?The Japanese ryō was not originally just a coin: it was connected to the Chinese weight-and-currency term liǎng, later used for gold and silver monetary values in Japan.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
兩 / 两 (liǎng)
“Two, a pair; later a unit of weight and precious-metal currency”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
ljuàng
“A pair or a weighing unit, developing into a monetary measure”
Early Japanese
Japanese
両 (ryō)
“A Sino-Japanese borrowing meaning both, pair, or a unit of weight”
16th–17th Century
Japanese
両 (ryō)
“A monetary unit associated especially with gold currency”
Edo Period
Japanese
両 (ryō)
“A major accounting unit of Japanese gold and coinage”
Modern English
English
ryo / ryō
“A historical Japanese monetary unit”