Says Li, gold was never rare in China, but after the introduction of Buddhism, vast quantities of gold was diverted to make religious statues. With the exception of heavy gold ingots to store value, practically no gold coins circulated.
李念祖指出，中國本來不乏黃金，但佛教傳入中國後，佛寺遍布，為佛像「塑金身」耗去了大量黃金，加上宋朝開始採「銀本位」，因此除了保值用的厚重金錠之外，幾乎沒有可供廣為流通的金幣。