宋代的監當官，是相當重要的基層官吏。監當官負責鹽、茶、酒的專賣，徵收商稅，以及製造銅鐵錢與紙幣等工作，對於宋朝的經濟發展有相當重要的貢獻。在前資本主義時代，大商人、大商幫尚未興起，監當官則有促進全國性財賦流通與經濟循環的重要作用。

In the Sung Dynasty, the intendants were important basic-level officers. They would sell wine, tea and salt, collect business tax from businessmen, and produce coins and paper money, etc. They contributed greatly to the economic development of the Sung Dynasty. In the pre-capitalism period, they improved the economic and financial circulation in the entire imperial area.