Demand by those who had discovered the pleasures of smoking it led the Chinese to import it from India.
First Opium War (1839-1842)
As demand grew the volume increased, so that by the mid 18th century huge amounts were being imported from India by the British East India Company in return for tea, porcelain and silk, as the Chinese lacked interest in any other western import. Opium was smoked by all classes of society from the high level mandarins to the lowly coolies.
Realising the seriousness of the situation, the Qing government imposed a ban requiring the British traders to give up their stock of opium. When it was seized this led to the First Opium War in 1839. The Chinese lost the war and surrendered Hong Kong island to the British and were also compelled to open five Treaty Ports to western trade.
Second Opium War (1859-60)
Despite these concessions, opium was still prohibited though it was smuggled in and opium smoking continued to spread. The Second Opium War in 1859-60 resulted in the importation of opium being legalised and taxed.
Chinese domestic production also grew rapidly in response to increasing demand. However vigorous reforms by the Qing government and the British parliament finally forbad its shipment to China in 1911, the year the Manchu government fell.
Opium Pipes
Opium was smoked through a pipe consisting of two parts, the stem about 50 cm long and a detachable bowl, about two-thirds of the way along from the mouth piece, in which the drug was placed.
Users smoked while reclining on one side, the head resting on a hard pillow. Opium beds, made for two people to lie side by side, can still be found in some antique furniture shops.
Wealthy users often had very ornate pipes made of ivory, porcelain, jade, silver or gold, while others used bamboo, said by many to be preferable as the material absorbed some of the smoke adding to the pleasure. Sometimes the stem was covered with tortoiseshell, sharkskin or snakeskin, lacquered or inlaid with silver or gold. The bowls were made of ceramic, jade, pewter, even lemon or orange peel.
Opium Pipes Outlawed
It was unlawful until quite recently to buy old opium pipes in antique shops as the practice of smoking continued in some areas of Hong Kong and China. Although the purchase is not encouraged, pipes are now available together with their accessories which include trays on which were placed spirit lamps for cooking the opium over a flame, tinder boxes, weights and scales for weighing the drug.
Opium Boxes
Boxes for containing the drug itself were small round or oblong with rounded corners with a deep pull-off lid. They were made in a variety of materials such as horn, ivory, silver and bai tong, cloisonné, enamel, jade, brass and orange peel and decorated with auspicious symbols or scenes from the Chinese Classics.
These small collectables are a remnant of history which caused many conflicts and sadness. Smoking opium is still prevalent in some areas of the world today, but fortunately the practice in China is now a tiny fraction of what it once was.
For further reading: Michael Robson, The Potent Poppy, pub. Formasia, 1992. Also The Chinese Encounter wih Opium, Dreams of Colored Clouds and Orchid Fragrance, by K Flow, pub SMC Publishing Inc, 2009.
Valery Garrett - I was born in England but I’ve lived in Hong Kong for over thirty years. At first I worked as a fashion designer for some large ...
