August 3, 2009 -- Nanjing
My travels have recently carried me to China. My research tells me the ancient people of the region used cannabis for several applications, and that they could be the first group of humans to cultivate cannabis and subsequently teach the rest of the world about its benefits.It is important to note that my experiences in China thus far have been partially shaped by my citizenship: I am a “foreigner” (waiguo ren). After combing through the Shanghai Library, I gradually made my way west, library by library to the Second Historical Archives of China. Although archival research is by no means easy for Chinese nationals, non-Chinese citizens are required to satisfy more legal and administrative demands in order to gain entry into an archive. I spend days scouring the surrounding libraries and talking to the folks at the local open markets, waiting for granted access.
Yet everyone who has researched the history of China in China would probably admit that it is not an easy enterprise. Although the archives in China are technically open, the barriers to entry are many, entree is often conditional or only temporary, and the holdings are sometimes slim. But discovering the ancient origins of the wondrous plant, marijuana, is important, and if we’re going to understand how we manipulated the cannabis plant (or perhaps how cannabis has manipulated us), starting at the beginning, or as close to its origins itself, seems like the best place to start.
And with my hired guide Li Jie, recommended expert of the rural hills and mountains of China, I’m sure to succeed.
October 25th 2010 -- Beijing
My research, as daunting and restricted as its been at times, has revealed some interesting finds, but it’s the people of China I find the most interesting. A humble and modest people, who are thankfully diligent in their record keeping. Getting access to many archives has taken a great deal of diplomacy, and even more money in bribes. Li Jie has been a cooperative escort.Some of the earliest archeological hemp evidence (from what I have read), dating about 10,000 B.C., comes from rope imprints on broken Chinese pottery. Fragments of hemp cloth have also been found in Chinese burial chambers dating from the Chou Dynasty (1122-249 B.C.). In addition to archeological evidence, written documents refer to hemp as a source of clothing. For example, The Shu King, a book dating to about 2350 B.C., refers to the soil in Shantung as rich with silk and hemp while ancient poetry mentions young girls weaving hemp into clothing.
I’ve also discovered through the archives the Chinese relied on hemp for warfare. Due to its strength and durability Chinese archers made their bowstrings from hemp. Because these hemp bowstrings were stronger than the enemy's bamboo ones, the Chinese arrows could fly further. This was a large advantage in war. In fact, hemp was so important that Chinese monarchs allocated large portions of land specifically for growing hemp - the first war crop.
Then, there is paper, probably one of the most significant Chinese inventions. It has contributed to the archives and libraries I comb through. Fragments of paper containing hemp fiber have been found in Chinese graves dating to the first century B.C. The Chinese made paper by crushing hemp fibers and mulberry tree bark into a pulp and putting the mixture into a tank of water. The tangled fibers rose to the top of the water, were removed, and placed in a mold. After drying, the fibers formed sheets that could be written on. The Chinese kept paper making a secret for many centuries.
Thus far however, documents pertaining to cannabis’ medicinal properties have proven to be more difficult to come by.
April 28th, 2011 -- Pingjang
I’m thankful for my hired guide, Li Jie. After gaining his trust, which took much longer than I had hoped, he has introduced me to many rural medicine men, or wu, who have passed down their knowledge and traditions generation after generation, for more than 3000 years. Many of them have kept ancient archives that have finally offered the information I was truly looking for.
Yes, the Chinese used the hemp plant for rope, clothing, bowstrings, paper and of course, medicine. The ancient emperor, Shen-Nung (c.2700 B.C.), is known as the Father of Chinese Medicine. Because he was a good farmer and worried about his suffering subjects, he looked to plants for cures. According to legend, Shen-Nung tried poisons and their antidotes on himself and then compiled the medical encyclopedia called, Pen Ts'ao. The Pen Ts'ao list hundreds of drugs derived from vegetable, animal and mineral sources. Among these drugs is the plant cannabis, "ma."
According to the Wu, ma is a unique drug because it is both feminine, or yin, and masculine, or yang. Yin represented the weak, passive, and negative female influence in nature while yang represented the strong, active, and positive male force. When yin and yang were in balance, the body was in harmony and healthy. When yin and yang were out of balance, the body was in a state of disequilibrium and ill. Realizing that the female plant produced more medicine, the Chinese cultivated it instead of the male plant. Ma was used to treat absences of yin, such as: female menstruation, gout, rheumatism, malaria, constipation, and absentmindedness.
Archives also revealed during the second century A.D., the Chinese surgeon, Hua T'o, began to use cannabis as an anesthesia. He mixed cannabis resin with wine (ma-yo) and used it to diminish pain during surgery. He performed painful organ drafts, re-sectioning of the intestines, loin incisions, and chest incisions while the patient was anesthetized with ma-yo.
December 5th, 2011 -- Haikou
I’ve fallen in love with the island, but I’m not alone. I’m afraid I’ve lost Li Jie to it forever. Not only is the island beautiful, it’s wise wu, Huidai, has helped by filling in many of the gaps I needed for my research, as well as given me hints to how the silk road lead the way for marijuana’s migration.
The earliest recorded use of cannabis dates back 10,000 years to an ancient village in the island of Taiwan. As hemp and marijuana became more integrated into Chinese culture the use of this plant spread. Cannabis was a multipurpose plant to the ancient Chinese. It has been cultivated and used for over 4000 years. It was used for war, writing, food, and medicine but, overall, there is very little mention of its psychoactive properties by the Chinese. Huidai hints that It wasn't until the people of India were introduced to cannabis that it became a widespread religious and medicinal intoxicant.
So that is where my travels will take me next. What additions the history and culture the people of India could make to cannabis’ story intrigues me.
I do hope that I am able to find a guide as skilled
and helpful as Li Jie has been.
