從文化層面論近世時期雲南的貨幣使用習慣及其變遷

A Discussion of the Currency Habit and it's Vicissitude in Yunnan in Early Modern Period fromCultural Factor

雲南地處中國西南邊疆地區，長期使用貝幣而不通行內地的銅錢。海貝象徵財富，又是美觀的裝飾品，且被許多民族視為重要的占卜媒介與祭品。海貝在文化系統中的重要性，使其得以在雲南許多民族與區域間建立互信基礎。至於銅錢則未如同貝幣一樣具有豐富的文化意涵，其價值也未獲土著民族的廣泛接納，因此長期難於進入市場流通。及至晚明時期，隨著雲南社會內地化或漢化程度的加深，加上城市文化日趨繁盛，消費需求提升，遂使貝幣陸續脫離雲南各地的市場流通，許多城市的民間交易逐漸形成「大數用銀、小數用錢」的通貨使用習慣。

Yunnan, located in the southwest border area of Mainland China. The natives used cowry shells as a medium of exchange for a long time, but they actually did not use copper coins from the interior of China. Cowry shells were symbol of wealth and beautiful ornaments. Many native people viewed Cowry shells as an important media of divination and offerings. Relatively, copper coins didn't have diverse cultural meaning, so native people didn't accept its value extensively. This caused copper coins could not come into circulation smoothly. During the Ming Dynasty's last stage, the Yunnan area's Chinese localization or inlandization advanced. In addition, city culture became more prosperous, and consumer demand also increased. These transitions resulted in the gradual reduction of shell money being used in the Yunnan region as a medium of exchange. In many cities people monetary transactions had formed the custom of 'the large number with silver, the decimal with the copper coins'.