Customer Reviews

Opium Culture: The Art and Ritual of the Chinese Tradition

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Peter Lee's Opium Culture - which just as its title says tells of more or less every single little detail that has to do with the Chinese opium culture - is an extremely thorough and detailed book. Well, is that a good or a bad thing? It's both, actually.

But let's start with what's good. Lee doesn't only describe opium the drug, but also the great importance it has had for especially Chinese culture (even though the Chinese definitely weren't the first ones to realize its narcotic and medicinal potentials; those things were known thousands of years before the Chinese caught on), how national and international politics have been affected by it, all the savage wars started because of it, and much, MUCH, more. The books is simply packed with interesting and often quite disturbing information, and Lee makes sure to give equal space to both the negative as well as the positive sides of opium use.

So, what's bad, then? Well, the fact that it from time to time becomes almost too detailed, especially the long and very thorough instructions on how to prepare the opium pipe, the different tools used and how to use them, what material they're made of, and so on.

But then again, Lee set out to paint a complete picture, and that's exactly what he did. However, it's quite likely that many people will be upset, since what he's talking about and describing is, after all, something that the Man has decided to be criminal. And many of those complaining will most likely accuse Lee of trying to make his readers into devoted opium smokers.

But that's not fair at all. And why not? Because Opium Culture has tons of information about the horrible aspects of drug addiction. Lee thinks anyone should be allowed to smoke, that much is true, but not without knowing exactly what they're getting themselves into. Most Westerners have a flawed take on how the use of opium was a part of Eastern traditions for many centuries (and still is), and I don't doubt for a second that people would be more than pissed off if they know the truth about opium politics and how the pharmaceutical companies in the West function.

In the end, Opium Culture is a true eye-opener with tons of history, politics, ethnology, anthropology, and more, and if you after reading it still want to accuse Peter Lee of being a junkie who got lost in the opium haze a long time ago, well, then you're just being narrow-minded and lacking a tolerance for cultures that happen to be different from our own.

I work for Asia Galleries in San Francisco where we sell a lot of Antique Opium Artifacts. This book is one of books we use to identify our dampers, pipes, lams, and scrapers. This book is really helpful.

The book is good as an introduction to opium use for the novice, who know nothing about the subject. The beginning chapters speak of the history and trade. The middle chapters are interesting, filled with question & answer interviews and poetry. However, they occupy way too much space in this book.
The remaining chapters explain the "how to", which is factual and seems to be from personal experience.

In my opinion ONLY, the book doesn't remind me of a Chinese author/scholar, but more of an American writing on the subject, one who certainly does have the knowledge and experience to do so.

Summed up, it is a decent book for a reader's initiation to the subject of opium.

The Chinese art and culture of smoking opium is covered in a survey which includes addiction, withdrawal and medical issues as well as cultural insights and a social history. The result is a well-rounded survey in OPIUM CULTURE: THE ART & RITUAL OF THE CHINESE TRADITION. Every aspect of opium is covered, from how it came to be smoked for pleasure in China to its connections to Taoism, Chinese medicine and traditional Asian custom. Add quotes and insights from literary and artistic figures and you have a text which is packed with sociological insights.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

If you think you are in the know, here's a book that will vastly expand your knowledge of this topic. It is written clearly by an author who speaks from the heart, with vision, experience, and many years in the Orient amongst the Chinese. It's time for the world to take a close look at this subject and throw off the traditional unfounded taboos. This will be the definitive book on Opium Culture for years to come. A must read!

The scholar Peter Lee has written the best book to date on the subject of opium use from a Chinese perpective. Opium paraphernalia is widely collected today and it's artistic qualities are now appreciated. Mr. Lee book covers all aspects of opium use,it's history, it's repression and the reasons, it's rituals, and it's potential benifits as well as it's addictive properties. For anyone who finds the lure of this ancient herb interesting, this is a great read. Mr Lee brings this once hidden subject into the light with great insight and knowledge.