白银什么时候流通的

白银作为一种货币形式，在中国历史上有着悠久的历史。据史书记载，白银在中国最早出现于商朝时期，但直到明朝中后期才开始广泛流通。

在明朝中后期之前，白银并不是主要的流通货币。商朝时期的主要货币是海贝，春秋战国时期则出现了铜币和布帛等货币形式。随着商品经济的发展和贸易的扩大，人们开始寻找更加稳定和可靠的货币形式。在这种情况下，白银逐渐被人们所接受并开始用于商品交换和价值储藏。

明朝中后期，随着商品经济的进一步发展和海外贸易的繁荣，白银逐渐成为主要的流通货币。这一时期，中国大量进口白银，并建立了完善的银本位制度，确定了白银的法定地位。白银在中国的流通不仅促进了商品经济的发展，也加强了中国与世界的联系。

总的来说，白银在中国开始广泛流通是在明朝中后期。这一时期，白银逐渐取代了其他货币形式，成为主要的流通货币。随着时间的推移，白银在中国的地位逐渐稳固，并一直沿用至今。

相对应的英文版内容如下：

When did silver circulate?

Silver has a long history as a currency form in Chinese history. According to historical records, silver first appeared in the Shang Dynasty, but it was not widely circulated until the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty.

Before the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, silver was not the main currency in circulation. The main currency during the Shang Dynasty was sea shells, while during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, copper coins and cloth were used as currency. With the development of the commodity economy and the expansion of trade, people began to seek more stable and reliable currency forms. In this context, silver gradually became accepted and began to be used in commodity exchange and value storage.

In the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, with the further development of the commodity economy and the prosperity of overseas trade, silver gradually became the main currency in circulation. During this period, China imported a large amount of silver, and established a sound silver standard system to确定了白银的法定地位. Silver's circulation in China not only promoted the development of the commodity economy, but also strengthened China's connection with the world.

Overall, silver began to circulate widely in China during the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty. During this period, silver gradually replaced other currency forms to become the main circulating currency. Over time, silver's status in China gradually stabilized and has been used ever since.