Fu (tally)

Fu (Chinese: 符; pinyin: fú^ⓘ) was a tally, which was used as a proof of authorization in ancient China, which typically consists of two parts. Generals would use the fu as an imperial authorization for troop movements and for other purposes while amongst the populace, it was used as a proof of authorization for goods exchanges or for leases. The official fu was made of bamboo, wood, metal (gold, silver, bronze) or jade.^: 27–28 Although it could be made in various shapes (such as tiger, dragon, turtle, snake, fish or human), most of them come in the shape of a tiger.