雲南位居中國西南邊疆，在貨幣文化方面深受東南亞的影響，加以商品經濟的發展較為緩慢，造成雲南人長期使用貝幣而不通行內地的貨幣。元代與明代前期，政府曾試圖在雲南實行與內地一致的鈔法，但貝幣在流通領域仍佔優勢。明中葉以後，明廷曾多次計畫在雲南鑄造銅錢以供流通，但錢法實行的效果均頗為有限。整體而論，面對雲南特殊的貨幣文化，政府多以漸進與折衷政策逐步增強對當地經濟的控制，並藉由不同貨幣之間的兌換獲取差額利潤及充裕財源。直至明末，隨著雲南地區商品經濟的成長及東南亞經貿環境的變遷，貝幣始陸續脫離雲南各地的市場流通，白銀與銅錢遂取代了貝幣的通貨功能。

Yunnan, located in the southwest border area of Mainland China, came under the influence of Southeast Asia regarding its form of currency. In addition, Yunnan's development of commodity economy was also slower. This caused the natives of Yunnan to use cowry shells as a medium of exchange. They actually did not use copper coins from the interior of China for a long time. The Government tried to execute the nationally consistent Note Law during the Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty's early stage. After the Ming Dynasty's intermediate stage, the government planned to cast copper coins and supply them for circulation in Yunnan, but its success was quite limited. Confronted with the special currency culture, the government tried to increase its economic influence by gradual and compromising policy, and took advantaged of the currency price difference to raise financial income. During the Ming Dynasty's last stage, the commodity economy grew considerably. In addition, the economic and trade environment of Southeast Asia fluctuated. These transitions resulted in the gradual reduction of cowries being used in the Yunnan region as a medium of exchange. Silver and copper coins gradually replaced the function of shell money.