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The history of opium in China began with the use of opium for medicinal purposes during the 7th century. In the 17th century the practice of mixing opium with tobacco for smoking spread from Southeast Asia, creating a far greater demand. Imports of opium into China stood at 200 chests annually in 1729, when the first anti-opium edict was promulgated. and by the time Chinese authorities reissued the prohibition in starker terms in 1799, "in 1799 the Chinese authorities definitely prohibited the import of opium,.. first forbidden in 1729.." the figure had leaped; 4,500 chests were imported in the year 1800. The decade of the 1830s witnessed a rapid rise in opium trade, and by 1838, just before the First Opium War, it had climbed to 40,000 chests. The rise continued on after the Treaty of Nanking (1842) that concluded the war. By 1858 annual imports had risen to 70,000 chests (), approximately equivalent to global production of opium for the decade surrounding the year 2000. By the late 19th century Chinese domestic opium production challenged and then surpassed imports. The 20th century opened with effective campaigns to suppress domestic farming, and in 1907 the British government signed a treaty to eliminate imports. The fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, however, led to a resurgence in domestic production. By the 1930s the Nationalist Government, provincial governments, the revolutionary bases of the Communist Party of China, and the British colonial government of Hong Kong all depended on opium taxes as major sources of revenue, as did the Japanese occupation governments during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). After 1949 the respective governments of the People's Republic of China on the mainland and of the Republic of China on Taiwan successfully suppressed the widespread growth and use of opium.〔 〕 == Early history == Historical accounts suggest that opium first arrived in China during the Tang dynasty (618907) as part of the merchandise of Arab traders. Later on, Song Dynasty (9601279) poet and pharmacologist Su Dongpo recorded the use of opium as a medicinal herb: "Daoists often persuade you to drink the ''jisu'' water, but even a child can prepare the ''yingsu'' soup." Initially used by medical practitioners to control bodily fluid and preserve ''qi'' or vital force, during the Ming dynasty (13681644), the drug also functioned as an aphrodisiac or ''chunyao'' () as Xu Boling records in his mid-fifteenth century ''Yingjing Juan'': "It is mainly used to treat masculinity, strengthen sperm, and regain vigour. It enhances the art of alchemists, sex and court ladies. Frequent use helps to cure the chronic diarrhea that causes the loss of energy ... Its price equals that of gold." Ming rulers obtained opium via the tributary system, when it was known as ''wuxiang'' () or "black spice". The Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty record gifts to successive Ming emperors of up to of ''wuxiang'' amongst tribute from the Kingdom of Siam, which also included frankincense, costus root, pepper, ivory, rhino horn and peacock feathers. First listed as a taxable commodity in 1589, opium remained legal until the early Qing dynasty. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of opium in China」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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