The Large, Strange History of Cannabis in China

The Large, Strange History of Cannabis in China

Part of life understands that your grandparents (and their grandparents and grandparents) were people really like you. They lived, loved, and lots are acceptable. They crossed ways with cannabis at one point or another. In this article, we talk about The Large, Strange History of Cannabis in China. Cannabis is Presently making a comeback in China.

They may have even decided it, as hard as that is to believe. Cannabis’ appeal isn’t some newfangled phenomenon. For thousands of years, lovers have been utilizing it in a myriad of ways. Even in ancient China, people realized that cannabis was an unusually versatile plant — and they didn’t merely use it for creating rope and paper.

If you don’t understand me, maybe it’s time for a short history lesson History of Cannabis in China.

How Cannabis Did Use in Ancient China

Us know early humans used cannabis voraciously because we should the receipt: written in the 16th century B.C the Xia Xiao Zheng treaty. Within this agricultural treaty, cannabis Sativa was known as one of the primary crops in the region now known as China, including both its production and use was encouraged.

But anyhow, in those intervening 3,500 years, cannabis went from being a vital part of human culture to maybe the most demonized plant in the world. Today, the Xia Xiao Zheng deal is all but forgotten. Even the various progressive modern legislation doesn’t come close to matching the rubber stamp of approval that cannabis had in ancient China.

But why were the ancient Chinese so controlled among cannabis? 

Medical and Commercial Uses like Cannabis in Ancient China

In early B.C. China, soldiers found that bows made with hemp rope instead of bamboo allowed arrows to fly longer distances. It didn’t need long to use cannabis as a textile to become wildly plentiful, making it the dominant fabric in the region. It was used in making paper, fishnets, clothing, and oil from the cannabis seeds that were extracted for cooking food. According to a 1973 paper in the journal Economic Botany.

 The usees of cannabis was so omnipresent in ancient China that it became an integral part of traditional medicine. REPEAT: We’ve got the receipts: medical records dating after over 1,800 years prove that Chinese physicians of the time did analyze physical attributes of cannabis and its medicinal potential.

It’s ancient Chinese clear that they knew the functional properties of cannabis — but they also used it to kick back and relax. 

Recreational and Religious Uses of Cannabis in Ancient China

Incense holders are originating from China, dating back to 500 B.C in 2019. We were found to have marijuana residue inside, making it the oldest evidence of early humans smoking cannabis for mind-altering goals.

Researchers discovered remnants that indicate strains with higher THC levels were used in these wooden braziers, suggesting individual cannabis plants were selected over others, exclusively for their psychoactive effects — the work of the world’s first budtenders.

Cannabis’ existence in ancient Chinese culture was ever-present, even in the afterlife. In the Shanghai Tombs located in the Xinjiang Province, cannabis buds were found buried in ceremonial gravesites, suggesting some shamans were entombed with the plant. Even new cannabis lovers would be hard-pressed to match that level of dedication.

How Cannabis Fell Out of Favor in China (also How It’s Getting a Comeback)

Following on the massive popularity of cannabis in early B.C. China, it’s bewildering to think that it all just passed away — but it did. We don’t quite know why. Archaeologist Hui-Lin Li accepts that cannabis’ rapid departure from ancient Chinese culture could be attributed to textiles like bamboo from warmer southern regions taking over as the leading textile crop. Cotton, founded by explorers, may have also been the end of cannabis’ textile reign in China.

While cannabis use is now forbidden in modern China, the country is starting to warm up to the CBD trend, and plants are known as “Yunan Kush” still grow naturally in the Dali region. Regional law enforcement is known to have a “hands-off” approach to the phenomena, as described by the Chinese news outlet Global Times.

While the largest of the Yunan Kush is cultivated for industrial purposes, according to a statement from the International Hemp Association, there is a long-held tradition of farmers in the region using cannabis and milk as the main ingredients morning tea. Of course, whenever cannabis tea is included, large-scale hippie music festivals usually follow, explaining the Dali Erhai World Music Festival’s existence.

Feel like a specialist in the history of cannabis in China yet? We’ve only scratched the outside, but this should be just about enough knowledge so you can feel smart at your next dinner party.