The monetary system of the Ming Dynasty can be summarized as: banknotes, money and silver. In the early Ming Dynasty, people were forbidden to buy and sell gold and silver. Later, it was changed to paper money, supplemented by copper coins, and both money and paper money were used. After the mid-Ming Dynasty, with the development of commodity economy, the circulation of silver became more extensive. Although the court banned the trading of gold and silver, the people always used silver.