A “tofu account” witnesses 70 years of family life changes in Shanghai, becoming a valuable historical document.

On February 27, 1955, the household record documented 20,000 yuan for rock sugar; just a few weeks later, the record on March 12 noted 0.76 yuan for oranges and 0.50 yuan for fruit candy. This household ledger from a family in Shanghai, commonly referred to as “tofu accounts,” clearly details living expenses from the 1950s to the 1970s. The vast difference in amounts is attributed to the implementation of a new currency system in March 1955, which exchanged old currency at a rate of 1:10,000.

Seventy years later, the son of this family, He Jiming, a resident of Shanghai, donated three of his parents’ “tofu accounts” to the Hongkou District Library, along with several diaries written by his mother, various certificates, receipts for party dues after joining the Communist Party, photographs, and eight voter registration cards, totaling over 150 items.

He Jiming remarked, “My parents started keeping ‘tofu accounts’ in 1954, and they continued for decades. Although these records of daily expenses may seem mundane, they reflect the development of our country.” These ledgers serve as a microcosm of an ordinary Chinese family’s life and bear witness to the nation’s and society’s progress.

He Jiming’s father, He Yaozong, is now 94 years old and had a long career in telecommunications management, while his mother, Wu Jianhua, worked at a hospital and specialized in surgical anesthesia. Both were longstanding members of the Communist Party, leading diligent lives.

The practice of keeping “tofu accounts” can be traced back to the writer Lu Xun. He Yaozong recalls visiting the Lu Xun Memorial in 1951 and noticing that the writer kept a diary that also functioned as an expense record. Inspired by this, upon starting a family, he and his wife began maintaining their own “tofu accounts.”

He Yaozong explained that during that time, many families faced tight budgets, with household income primarily spent on everyday expenses. To prevent overspending and ensure reasonable financial planning, many families began to keep “tofu accounts.” Detailed records were maintained until 1976, after which only sporadic entries were made, as the standard of living improved and financial strain eased.

At the Hongkou District Library, the “tofu accounts” are recorded in a black hardcover notebook with entries arranged by date. The first ledger starts with entries from November 28, 1954, detailing expenses such as 15,000 yuan for coal and 66,500 yuan for curtains. The April 27, 1955 entry noted 2,000 yuan for rock sugar, reflecting the old currency system.

In March 1955, when the new currency system was introduced, the exchange rate for old to new currency was 1:10,000. During the transitional period, both currencies circulated. The March 12 entries include new currency records: 0.76 yuan for oranges and 0.50 yuan for fruit candy; on March 13, meat was 0.40 yuan and vegetables 0.10 yuan.

He Yaozong’s monthly salary was 900,000 yuan (converted to 90 yuan), which was considered a high income at the time. He Jiming explained that salaries were distributed bi-monthly. Given that the new government had only recently established itself, market prices were still being stabilized. To maintain living standards, wages were adjusted based on the cost of essential goods, including rice and coal.

The ledgers include original receipts from past shopping experiences: a 1973 invoice for an 80-watt fluorescent desk lamp costing 16 yuan purchased at the Telecommunications New Village store; a receipt from Changhong Clothing Store for a polyester-cotton garment costing 16.80 yuan using a fabric coupon; and a valedictory receipt for school fees totaling 9 yuan from Beijiao Middle School on February 17, 1973.

A close review of the earliest accounts from 1954 shows the limited variety of consumer goods primarily consisting of vegetables, eggs, and seasonings, with very few snacks or fruits. By the 60s, chocolates and toffees began to appear; and in the 70s, expenditures expanded to include fruits and milk.

The changes in social productivity and living standards in China over the first twenty years before reform and opening up can be traced through these invoices and entries. He Jiming expressed, “In the era my parents lived, market goods were scarce; even with money, it was difficult to purchase items. Now, the situation is entirely different; you can buy whatever you desire. Especially since the reform and opening up, our country has achieved remarkable economic and social progress. Ration tickets for fabric, grain, meat, and coal stoves have all become part of history, significantly enhancing people’s living standards.”

To ensure that these historical “tofu accounts” find a proper home, He Jiming decided to donate them to the Hongkou District Library. He stated, “My parents always taught us to remember the past, to work hard, and to be self-reliant. The donation is mainly to let everyone know that social development has historical processes. We should listen to the Party, follow its guidance, manage our households frugally, and work diligently to achieve the happy life we enjoy today.”

Library staff noted that the “tofu accounts” kept by He Jiming’s parents from the 1950s coincide with the period of China’s currency reform, serving an important role in the study of the country’s monetary history. They are especially valuable local archival materials, providing a clear understanding of the life trajectory, financial circumstances of an ordinary Shanghai family, as well as the price index and economic conditions of that era.