The Social Life of Opium in China

by Zheng Yangwen

The history of Opium in China begins in the mid-Ming dynasty, when as a tribute from vassal states, it was initially used as an aphrodisiac in the Ming court. The Chinese then began to collectively redefine the foreign recreational resource's usage and created a complex culture around its comsumption. This book traces the transformation over a period of five hundred years, revealing the nature of Opium's introduction and development in China as a universal cultural institution.

Genres: History, China, Tea

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be greatly disappointing. I was expecting a social history of 500 years but in reality it was mostly an ahistorical cultural anthropology approach to opium use in China. There were only 30 pages at the beginning that looked at pre-19th century use. And while being rather derogatory about historians who used the official histories, this seemed to be largely what she (uncritically) based her work on the Ming/early Qing on. The biggest problem with this book was that the author seemed to forget – or purposefully overlook- the fact that opium is a highly addictive drug. A drug that was illegally being smuggled into China by Britain to further it’s own greed. Instead of looking at opium as a drug she looked at it from the point of a “culture of consumption” putting it on the same level as tobacco, tea and food. She also never once mentioned wine, or the Chinese attitude towards drinking. It was like they’d never had alcohol, or any addictive, drugs in the past. She even went as far as quoting 19th century missionaries who said that opium didn’t seem to have negative effects on the Chinese people, as it did on others, and really not many of them every became addicted despite using opium on a daily basis (174) A lot of her argument for the acceptance of opium came from the acceptance of tobacco smoking earlier. (Even though she pointed out that opium was actually used in small doses as an aphrodisiac before tobacco use started). That tobacco smoking had become acceptable is not an issue but one wonders how that really affected opium. As surely if the Chinese welcomed the new habit of smoking with tobacco they would have just as readily welcomed opium if it had been first, particularly as it has stronger effects and is more addictive. Throughout the book Zheng seemed to have little awareness of the negative side of opium. Even when discussing how opium was used by prostitutes, and had women become involved in gangs this was described as increased social mobility and independence. Rather than criminalisation, one cannot help but wonder how much freedom a gang would give a woman compared with a family. One other thing that was odd was she made frequent use of the phrase “sex recreation” I’m not sure if this is a phrase common to cultural anthropology but I found it really odd. From what I could tell she was mostly just referring to visiting prostitutes. She also seemed to be implying that the people who visited prostitutes were the high class literati, rather than those who were either students, or failed to achieve a political career. She quoted from Six records of a floating life (a brilliant book) about visiting a prostitute’s boat and smoking opium. But she made him out to be a high official, whereas the rest of the book talks about how he never achieved a proper job, spent a lot of time starving and borrowing money from his friends. A literate bum. (But a great character) In her chapter looking at the spread of opium use from “high to low” culture she looked at opium smoking in the palace. She talked about a prince who used opium and the eunuchs/servants of his that did. However, as both of these people were in the palace, this doesn’t really seem like a proper trickle down from one high group to the other. At no point did she trace how opium use spread to the middle classes. Though she seemed quite quick to link use by prostitutes and criminals to the upper classes. Opium in this book became culturally bad when used by the “lower classes” which meant servants and coolies, not prostitutes or actors who Zhang seemed to consider in the elite class despite the social unacceptability of their professions. I thought about giving up on this book several times but in the end I’m glad I didn’t. One chapter was very useful and informative. This was looking at the Chinese writings and oral stories about opium use. While there was a lot of poetry in favour of it, there was also some very good cautionary songs and stories. This is definitely something I’ll look closer into, McMahon’s book on 19th century opium use seems to include this according to her footnotes. I have read a very good book on opium called Narcotic Culture, (co-written by one of my SOAS professors) his name was not given in the bibliography, even though the book was mentioned by name towards the end. I can honestly say that book was much better. While focusing in on a smaller period it properly examined the culture of opium use. As a Cambridge book based on a phd I was expecting a more thorough level of analysis. A lot of the popular history books I’ve been reading lately I’ve felt critical of as they offered history without analysis this seemed to be more analysis without the history to back it up. Perhaps she had more evidence and sources that she just didn’t add in here. I think the most telling thing was when she casually mentioned she assumed that All coolies used opium, without any sources or references to back this up. I’m very glad I got this book from the library and didn’t buy it.

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting indeed, appropriate use of sociological theories and vivid descriptions of the Chinese conspicuous consumption of opium that became a Chinese way of life woven into the social fabric of Chinese interaction and at the same time becoming a bane of the country leading to decline and weakness and loss of self confidence in the face of imperialistic manipulation and economic exploitation.

[Bumbierītis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gave a general overview of the social aspects of opium consumption in China throughout history, however, it felt like it was lacking a bit of depth and it was quite repetitive. A bit felt like reading the author's PhD dissertation.

[Federico · Rating 2 out of 5]

Err:509

[J. Gong · Rating 5 out of 5]

insanely fascinating. offers a really unique perspective on opium consumption in China – the way in which opium has shaped the social culture of China, the nation's political and economic history both internally and also with regard to relations between the East and the West, interpersonal relationships within China on a personal level, and the Chinese identity – as well as the way Chinese opium consumption has shaped the way opium and China are viewed by outsiders.

made me add several more books to my "to-read" list.

[Lauren Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was gripping, but I do like a bit of cultural anthropology.

[Lars · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but very dry in writing style. Think dissertation. Maps evolution of opium from medicine to aphrodisiac, then to elite status symbol, pop culture use, criminalization.

[Mentatreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not impressed with this study. There were several interesting facts and information but I found the arrangement badly done. Chapters started out explaining what they were supposed to cover but the contents meandered. I could not find any arguments being made or any logic to the flow of the book. The early chapters contained a lot of duplication, so much so that I was beginning to think the whole book's content could be condensed without loss into a 20 page essay.

It could of used a strict editor too. Words were misused and the tone varied dramatically dripping into the conversational. Statements were made with no citation.

The book could have definitely used a table of Chinese weights and measures and one of currency cost of living comparisons.

I was especially dissatisfied with the use of western social theories applied to the Chinese society. Especially as these theories themselves are based on very small temporal and geographical sections of western civilization.