page_title: Fu (tally)
hierarchical_section_title: Fu (tally)
caption_attribution_description: A hufu 虎符, or Tiger Tally, made of bronze with gold inlay, found in the tomb of the King of Nanyue (at Guangzhou), dated 2nd century BCE, during the Western Han era of China. Tiger Tallies were separated into two pieces, one held by the emperor, the other given to a military commander as a symbol of imperial authority and ability to command troops.
context_page_description: In ancient China a fu was a tally, made of bamboo, wood, metal or jade and used as a proof of authorization. Most commonly, fu were made of wood or bamboo in sizes of wooden slips or bamboo chopsticks. Although fu have been made in various shapes, most of them come in the shape of a tiger.
  Classical description of tallies is found in the Zhou li, which refers to the tallies of jade and horn, and mentions the shapes of tiger, human, dragon, seal, and banner.
  Fu was derived from the post of title of an official in charge of the tally.
context_section_description: In ancient China a fu (Chinese: 符; pinyin: fú) was a tally, made of bamboo, wood, metal (gold, silver, bronze) or jade and used as a proof of authorization. Most commonly, fu were made of wood or bamboo in sizes of wooden slips or bamboo chopsticks. Although fu have been made in various shapes (such as tiger, dragon, turtle, snake, fish or human), most of them come in the shape of a tiger.
  Classical description of tallies is found in the Zhou li, which refers to the tallies of jade and horn, and mentions the shapes of tiger, human, dragon, seal, and banner.
  Fu (surname 符) was derived from the post of title of an official in charge of the tally.
caption: Tiger tally of Western Han period
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