The history of humanity's use of hemp is longer than many might think. In fact, they have accompanied humans since the dawn of time, being used in almost every place on Earth.
Our species, searching nature for the most useful materials for the production of tools, clothes, houses, etc., has also discovered new properties of an increasingly numerous group of plants. Archaeological research shows that hemp was one of the first uses. It took place in China and was initially used in the production of all kinds of fabrics.
The oldest find indicating their use by humans comes from the island of Taiwan, located off the coast of China. In this fertile and therefore densely populated area, scientists found an ancient settlement dating back approximately 10,000 years. During the excavations, tools were found whose appearance closely resembled those later used to loosen hemp fiber from the stalk. Traces of hemp fibers were also discovered on clay vessels. It is possible that hemp was used there to shape clay.
However, it was the Chinese and Japanese who developed and popularized the use of this plant. Just like the ancient inhabitants of Taiwan, they discovered that twisted fibers are much stronger than single threads. The spread of this knowledge gave rise to the use of durable clothes and shoes made of hemp, which gradually began to replace leather clothing. The discovery made in an ancient tomb dating back to the Chou dynasty indicates that it took place approximately 2.5 thousand years ago. Interestingly, silk became popular during the same period. Unfortunately, the high costs associated with problematic production made it a privilege only for the richest.
Hemp in Asia Due to their functionality and unrivaled nature, hemp clothes and the fibers themselves quickly took an important place in the culture of ancient China and Japan. They are mentioned in a fragment of the Book of Rites from the 2nd century BC. There is an order addressed to mourners who are obliged to wear clothes made of hemp fabric during the mourning period. This custom has become so deeply rooted in the Chinese mentality that it has survived to this day.
In addition, fabric and fiber made from this plant acquired symbolic meaning and were a very popular element of poetry, legends and folk tales. Their themes revolved around various motifs: from love or marriage to exorcising spirits. In turn, ancient Chinese manuscripts are filled with appeals to the poor, urging them to grow hemp to provide them with clothing.
It also happened that the material was in no way inferior to precious silk. In the 9th century BC "Amazons" from Indochina offered the Chinese emperor glitter made from hemp. According to the court scribe, it sparkled with five fancy colors and enchanted with its stunning and mysterious, sweet scent.
The growing popularity of cannabis has caught the attention of military officials. A Chinese general came up with the idea of replacing bamboo strings with hemp strings. The innovation turned out to be revolutionary and contributed to the victory of the ingenious commander. His archers gained greater firing range, which meant a huge advantage on the battlefield. As a result, the more warlike rulers began to allocate large areas of land to the cultivation of this plant.
Paper is, of course, considered one of the most important early Chinese inventions. Without its use, civilization would develop at a snail's pace. Scientific heritage, literature, art, accounting etc. they would not have the right to exist without records.
An old Chinese legend tells about the invention of paper. The year was 105 AD. In those days, the Chinese carved their characters on wooden and bamboo tablets. Therefore, if someone wanted to devote their life to science, they had to be very physically fit, because the process of carving and subsequent reading meant shifting many kilograms of wood a day. An even more serious problem was the transport of individual books or, God forbid, entire libraries. So they tried to find a "lighter" way of keeping notes. For a short time, attempts were made to paint signs on silk, but due to the absurdly high costs, the project was abandoned.
A Chinese official named Ts'ai Lun had been considering the use of hemp for this purpose from the very beginning. However, creating fabrics on which to keep records was only slightly cheaper and easier than using silk. We had to find something even faster and simpler. After numerous failed attempts, he finally achieved his goal. The recipe was simple but revolutionary. Crushed hemp and mulberry bark fibers were mixed with water to create a paste, which was then placed in molds and allowed to dry. This is how sheets ready for saving were created. What was the astonishment of the clever Chinese when his invention was met not so much with cold reception, but with complete rejection and ignorance! The desperate official came up with an unusual idea and attributed his discovery to the power to resurrect the dead. He prepared and then performed an entire staging intended to confirm the supernatural nature of his work. The trick worked, Ts'ai Lun became a star, and paper began to be widely used.
The story, although funny, is still a legend, because the oldest preserved pieces of paper are two hundred years older than Ts'ai Lun himself. From the very beginning, the Chinese tried to keep this discovery a secret as long as possible. Therefore, the rest of the world did not learn about it until more than a millennium later, in the 9th century CE. thanks to the Arabs.
Already so popular, marijuana had to become the subject of more and more research until it was finally used in medicine. Beginnings can be difficult and that was the case here. It was originally used by shamans during their rituals. They used "magical" snake-shaped staffs made of hemp stalks, with which the priest tried to exorcise the demon from the sick person's body. Only many years later, thanks to the mythical Chinese emperor Shen-Nung, it was rediscovered. This time as an anesthetic substance. After testing its effects on himself, the emperor included it in his Pen Ts'ao, a book describing the herbs he had tested and had a positive impact on people. Soon it was used in surgeries, births and transplants.
The natural course of events was to further learn about the psychoactive properties of marijuana and use it for relaxation and entertainment purposes. However, due to the growing popularity of Taoism at that time, which promoted an extremely healthy and natural lifestyle, the idea did not gain many supporters. The situation was different in India, where it became popular as an ingredient of dishes such as Bhang, Ganja and Charas, whose potency is similar to hashish. The most popular Bhang was and still is to Hindus what alcohol is to the inhabitants of the Old Continent. In Indian culture, it plays an irreplaceable role during celebrations such as weddings and receptions. Its stronger version, Ganja, was used during the war as a "warrior's drink". It made the combatants become fearless and victorious soldiers. This tradition began with Gobind Singh, one of the ten gurus of the Sikh religion. During the battle, a war elephant attacked the priest's army and, in order to prevent the defeat of his army, he drugged one of his fighters with Bhanga. He fearlessly undertook a suicide mission, during which he single-handedly killed an elephant and guaranteed his companions' survival and victory. Since then, Sikhs have commemorated the anniversary of this event by ritually eating Bhanga.
Over time, marijuana begins to take on a sacred meaning. The Buddha, many fakirs and ascetics are accused of taking it. It is a very important element of Tantrism. It appears in the book of Vedas, where it is called "one of the five royal herbs that free from fear." Her position is gradually growing. In the 10th century it was already called the "food of the gods", and fifteenth-century books describe it only in superlatives. It becomes a constant theme in Indian literature. At the turn of the 20th century, a specially appointed drug commission was tasked with investigating the use of marijuana in India. Their conclusions were surprising. After numerous studies, it was found that the plant is an inseparable and positive element of Indian culture.
This is how hemp was first used in Asia. Initially, they were a spinning material, gradually becoming part of the culture of Japan, India and China, and finally enabling the latter to produce paper. Its psychoactive effects have been widely used in both religion and medicine. It served as a means of connecting with the deity and an anesthetic. It was used in almost every area of human life and became a permanent part of the literature of that region, becoming an integral element of Asian civilization.
Article from the 50th issue of Gazeta Konopna SPLIFF
Comments