Opium flooding

Domestic situation in China

From the end of18th century to the middle of19th century, China was in the late period of the Qing Dynasty, which was also the end of the feudal system in China for more than 2,000 years. The situation in China can be summarized as follows:

1, economically backward. At this time, under the rule of the Qing government, China's self-sufficient natural economy, which combined small-scale peasant economy with cottage industry, still dominated. Land annexation is very serious. A large amount of cultivated land is concentrated in the hands of nobles and landlords, and the emperor is the largest landlord in the country. Farmers, who make up the vast majority of the country's population, have almost no land. Under the heavy exploitation of feudal land rent, taxes, corvees and usury, the peasants were trapped in poverty, bankruptcy and displacement. The contradiction between the peasant class and the landlord class was the main contradiction in society at that time.

2. Political corruption. The highly centralized monarchy in the Qing Dynasty has decayed. The emperor was arbitrary, arrogant and indulged in the dream of "going to heaven and going to earth". General government officials are ignorant and closed, official corruption is rampant, and official management corruption. Corruption became an irresistible epidemic of the ruling clique in Qing Dynasty. Joining the party for personal gain also formed a bad atmosphere in the ruling group at that time.

3. Weakness of armaments. On the eve of the Opium War, although there were 890,000 Eight Banners soldiers and Green Camp soldiers in the Qing Dynasty, they were numerous and their weapons were backward. They mainly used cold weapons such as knives, spears, bows and arrows. Moreover, military affairs are lax, lack of training, military discipline is corrupt, and national defense forces are very weak. It is decadent to reimburse more than 200,000 yuan a year (accounting for nearly half of the fiscal revenue of the Qing Dynasty at that time).

4. The ideological and cultural circles are unremarkable. The rulers of the Qing Dynasty implemented a harsh policy of cultural autocracy and followed the imperial examination system of stereotyped writing for scholars. Vigorously advocate the study of empty song dynasty, that is, divorced from the actual neo-Confucianism and Chinese studies, and vigorously promote the literary inquisition to clamp down and imprison scholars' thoughts. The ideological circle is in a rather numb, depressed and dreary atmosphere.

5. Closed to the outside world. The foreign policy adopted by the Qing Dynasty was a "closed door" policy. The closed-door policy has limited foreigners' maritime aggression against their country to a certain extent. However, from a long-term and overall perspective, this policy has not played a positive role in resisting colonial aggression. On the contrary, it restricts China himself, which is tantamount to getting lost. Therefore, it is fundamentally a negative, backward and wrong policy.

British trade invasion

The British opium ship "Beijing" unloaded opium

At the same time, European capitalist countries rose rapidly. Britain basically completed the industrial revolution in the twenties and thirties of 19, which represented the most advanced productivity level at that time. China has huge population resources, which is the potential market that the British bourgeoisie dreams of. China's self-sufficient natural economy and China's closed-door policy are stumbling blocks for Britain to dump industrial products to China.

65438+Before 1930s, China was always in a position of transcendence in foreign trade. The trade between China and Britain has always maintained the advantage of more than 23 million taels of silver per year. In order to reverse this situation, the British bourgeoisie, out of its predatory nature, attacked China's trade market with opium, and obtained a rich ill-gotten wealth.

Opium ship

The British bourgeoisie first exported textiles to India, then opium from India to China, and then tea and raw silk from China to Britain. The British benefited a lot from this triangle trade. Apart from Britain importing opium to China, the United States also imported opium from Turkey to China, and Russia imported opium from Central Asia to northern China.

Due to the sharp increase in opium imports, the trade status between China and Britain has completely changed. Britain changed from surplus to surplus, while China did the opposite, resulting in a large outflow of silver. According to statistics, during the period of 1820- 1840, the silver outflow from China was about 654.38+200 million taels. The continuous outflow of silver caused by a large number of opium imports has begun to disrupt the treasury and currency circulation of the Qing Dynasty, bringing the economy of the Qing Dynasty to the brink of collapse. More seriously, the spread of opium has greatly damaged the physical and mental health of smokers. If left unchecked, the Chinese nation will face the danger of extinction.

Destroying opium in Humen-no smoking begins

The destruction of opium in Humen

Patriotic scholar-officials also demanded that smoking be banned. Since 1836, there has been a fierce debate between banning smoking and relaxing in the ruling class of Qing Dynasty.

1June 2, 838, Huang Juezi, secretary of crack crack crack crack temple who advocated smoking ban, went to Daoguang Emperor for advice and put forward a plan of "severely punishing smoking". He advocates that opium addicts must quit smoking within 1 year. Those who fail to quit smoking within the time limit shall be put to death, officials shall be put to death, and future generations shall not take the imperial examination. Governor Lin Zexu of Huguang and Governor Tao Shu of Liangjiang all supported Huang Jue's idea. 1From July to September, 838, Lin Zexu repeated Daoguang three times and recognized Huang Juezi. He pointedly pointed out that if smoking is not effectively banned, in the long run, after decades, the army will be weak, the treasury will be empty, there will be few soldiers who can defend the enemy in the Central Plains, and the country will have no money to send.

Peace and military pay were the lifeblood of the Qing ruling clique. Lin Zexu hit the nail on the head. In order to safeguard the interests of the feudal ruling class, Daoguang tended to temporarily ban smoking, and decided to adopt the opinions of Huang Jue Zi and Lin Zexu and prohibit opium. 1October 25th, 1838, 10, Daoguang issued a letter, demanding that all provinces "unite as one, regardless of territory, be down-to-earth and not relax at all". On the same day, Daoguang removed Zhuang, who smoked opium, from the title of king, and assisted lord protector to the title of title. Each penalty deserved to support money and food for 2 years. Three days later, Xu Naiji, who put forward the theory of "relaxing the ban" two years ago, was demoted as an example. Then, Lin Zexu was called to Beijing to discuss smoking ban. 1838 65438+On February 29th, Lin Zexu came to Beijing on the orders of Governor Huguang. Daoguang appointed Lin Zexu as an imperial envoy, added a minister of war, controlled the Guangdong navy, and strictly banned smoking in Guangdong. Since then, the curtain of "Humen Destroying Opium" has finally been opened.

Humen destroys opium-no smoking.

The destruction of opium in Humen

1836 (in the 16th year of Daoguang), Xu Naiji, a young official of Taichang Temple, advocated the theory of "prohibition" and asked the people to sell cigarettes to legalize opium smuggling.

1838 (18th year of Daoguang reign), Huang Jue, secretary of crack hon temple, put forward the theory of "prohibition", emphasizing the treatment of food intake first. Lin Zexu twice went to the imperial court to ask for the prohibition of opium. Smoking is strictly prohibited in the province, and cigarettes, ointment and smoking utensils are collected, and "addiction pills" are prepared for people to quit smoking, which has achieved remarkable results.

1938165438+10 15, Daoguang sent Lin zexu as an imperial envoy to Guangdong to investigate the smoking ban.

On March 1839, Lin Zexu arrived in Guangzhou after a two-month journey. The next day, two notices were posted outside Yuanmen, namely "Show Receipt" and "Show Customs Defense". The former said that the purpose of the imperial envoy to Guangzhou was to investigate the Haikou incident, while the latter was the first voice to take anti-smoking action.

1March 839,1March 8, Lin zexu issued two imperial edicts.

1839 March 19 It is forbidden for foreigners to leave Guangzhou.

The destruction of opium in Humen

On March 2, 1 839,1ordered the siege of the commercial pavilion.

1839 March 22, ordered the seizure of British opium dealers.

On March 28th, 1839, the British Commercial Supervision Act in China presented Lin Zexu with "20283 boxes of cigarettes that meet the legal requirements".

1839 April 10 Lin Zexu and Deng Tingzhen personally went to Humen to inspect the preparation work before collection.

In April 1839+0 1, Lin zexu personally supervised the whole collection process.

1839 may18, which was used for 34 days, * * collected 19 187 boxes of smoked soil and 219 bags with a total weight of1/kloc-9.

1June 3, 839, Humentan, destroyed the confiscated opium, which took 23 days.

Historical influence of smoking ban in Humen

The destruction of opium in Humen

The destruction of opium in Humen curbed the spread of opium in China to a certain extent and had a positive impact on the people. Secondly, the anti-smoking campaign has greatly raised the awareness of the general public in China about the dangers of opium, made many people see the essence of opium trafficking from Britain to China, and awakened people's patriotic consciousness.

After this incident, Lin Zexu, a hero who banned smoking, was honored as a national hero. Its honesty and integrity are also respected by future generations. However, the "smoking ban in Humen" did not effectively rescue China from the quagmire, but accelerated the British invasion of China. The reason is that the anti-smoking movement directly harmed the interests of the British bourgeoisie, and the British government quickly decided to launch a long-planned war of aggression against China. "Humen destroyed opium" has also become the fuse for foreign powers to launch the opium war. From this point of view, the Opium War in Humen accelerated the pace of China's semi-colonization, and promoted the development of modern China history to a great extent.

Historical significance of smoking ban in Humen

The destruction of opium in Humen

On the one hand, the destruction of opium in Humen awakened many patriotic people of insight at that time, and they began to reflect and reposition China's position in the world, and no longer called themselves "China".

On the other hand, it also greatly suppressed the British opium trade in China, dealt a heavy blow to the British bourgeoisie's trade plunder in China, and showed the firm determination and awakening consciousness of China people to ban smoking.

In addition, this incident has also become an example of the world's anti-smoking movement. Many countries and regions in history have followed suit in light of their own conditions to curb the spread of drugs.

Lin Zexu led the victory of the anti-smoking movement and safeguarded the dignity and interests of the Chinese nation. "Destroying opium in Humen" is an important historical example of China's opposition to imperialism in modern history, and it is also an unprecedented feat in human history. Historians believe that it shows the determination of the Chinese nation to resist foreign aggression, and it is of symbolic significance for the people of China to resist foreign aggression.

Opium Destruction in Humen-Hero of Smoking Ban 1, Lin Zexu (1785- 1850)

The destruction of opium in Humen

Lin Zexu, who is affectionate and silent, was born in Houguan County (now Fuzhou). In his early years, he was born in a poor family and received a good education. For 40 years as an official, he is "self-motivated", honest and honest, and attaches importance to water conservancy and disaster relief. In the 16th year of Qing Jiaqing (18 1 1), he entered the Imperial Academy as Jishi Shu, taught editing, and successively served as the examiner after having obtained the provincial examinations in Jiangxi and Yunnan, supervised the censor of Jiangnan Road, the provincial judges in Hangjiahu Road, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shaanxi, and the ministers in Hubei, Hunan and Henan provinces. In the eleventh year of Daoguang (183 1), Daoguang was promoted to the governor of Donghe, and presided over the construction and dredging of the Yellow River and canals. /kloc-was promoted to governor of Jiangsu in 0/2 years, and 18 years (1838) served as governor of Huguang. The opium ban has achieved remarkable results. 1 1 In June, he served as an imperial envoy and went to Guangdong to ban opium and control the Guangdong navy. Lin Zexu vowed in Guangdong: "If opium lasts for a day, I will be with you for a day." British businessman Yi Fa and others were afraid of Lin Zexu's Yi Fa and were forced to hand over more than 20,000 boxes of opium and destroy them in Humentan. His greatest achievement is that he led the vigorous anti-smoking movement in China-Humen destroyed opium, commanded the anti-British struggle, safeguarded national sovereignty and national dignity, and became the first national hero and patriot in modern history of China. Thirty years after Daoguang (1850), Lin Zexu died of illness. In the first year of Xianfeng (185 1), Emperor Xianfeng was sacrificed and buried, and posthumous title was "Wenzhong", giving a gold gift to Prince Taifu. After the death of Lin Zexu, the whole country mourned and Fuzhou built a shrine to worship.

2. Castanopsis fissa (1793- 1853)

Huang Juezi

Huang Jue Zi (1793- 1853), male, whose name is Decheng,No. Shuzhai, is from Yihuang, Jiangxi. In the third year of Daoguang (1823), he was a scholar, edited by the Hanlin Academy, and served as the supervisor of imperial history, military science and engineering. In the 19th year of Daoguang (1839), he served as Shao Qing of Dali Temple, General Political Envoy of the General Political Department, Right Assistant Minister of Ritual Department, Right Assistant Minister of Punishment Department and Left Assistant Minister.

Before the Opium War, he proposed that smokers should be severely punished when smoking was banned, which aroused a big debate among military and political officials in China provinces about prohibition and irrepressibility, and became the initiator of Lin Zexu's anti-smoking movement. After the outbreak of the Opium War, he was sent to Fujian and Zhejiang to investigate opium smuggling and inspect coastal defense, persisted in resisting aggression, and exposed the foreign compromise conspiracy of the capitulators. "For a moment, I thought the goal was clear."

In the 18th year of Daoguang (1838), on the 10th day of April, Huang Jue was appointed as the minister of crack hon temple. In view of the serious situation of drug abuse at that time and the negative influence caused by Xu Naiji's "anti-drug theory" two years ago, he presented a memorial to Daoguang, advocating that drug abuse is strictly prohibited. This is the famous book "Strictly Stop Missing State Capital". In this memorial, starting from the serious difficulty of the shortage of national fiscal revenue, he put forward the view that in order to stop a large number of silver outflows, it is necessary to "cure cigarettes first". It is the most urgent thing for Huang Jue to explain, reason and analyze interests, forcing the supreme ruler of the Qing Dynasty to make the final choice on this issue. This memorial played an important role in Daoguang Emperor's final decision to ban smoking and sent Lin Zexu to Guangdong to ban smoking, which had a positive impact in China.

4. Daoguang (1782 ~ 1850)

Daoguang

The reign time of Daoguang was 1820- 1850. During Daoguang's reign, he was called Daoguang Emperor. Ai Xinjue Roche, whose real name is Yongning. Temple name Xuanzong, posthumous title Xiao Tianfu Li Yunzhong Zhizheng arrived in Wu Wensheng, brave, kind, thrifty, diligent, filial and tolerant, and determined to be emperor. The second son of Qing Renzong (Jiaqing Emperor). Mother Xiao Shurui and Queen Xi Lata. Formerly known as Mianning, he was studious and clever since childhood. In the 18th year of Jiaqing (18 13), he was named Prince of Wisdom. In twenty-five years, Emperor Jiaqing died. Mianning succeeded to the throne and renamed Xuanzong Yunning.

When Daoguang ascended the throne, it coincided with the decline of the Qing Dynasty, political corruption, abandoned armaments and internal and external troubles. Opium trade directly damages social production and national strength. Some enlightened officials strongly demand that smoking be banned. In order to save the national financial crisis and support smoking ban, Daoguang Emperor issued several decrees prohibiting opium import and self-production.

In the 18th year of Daoguang (1838), Lin Zexu was sent to Guangzhou by an imperial envoy to ban smoking. Lin Zexu, Deng Tingzhen, Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Guan Tianpei, Governor of Guangdong Navy, arrested cigarette dealers and rectified coastal defense, and achieved remarkable results. However, the anti-smoking movement harmed the interests of the British bourgeoisie, and Britain launched the Opium War on the pretext of "Humen exterminating opium". After a series of setbacks, Emperor Daoguang gave up his resistance, and his attitude towards foreign invaders changed to just reaching an agreement and making peace.

5. Deng Tingzhen (1776— 1846)

Deng Tingzhen, whose real name is Wei Zhou and whose real name is Yi Yun, was named Miao Jixiang and Mu Gang. Jiangsu Jiangning (now Nanjing) people. In the sixth year of Jiaqing (180 1 year), he was a scholar, chose Jishi Shu to teach editing, and set up schools and examinations in Ningbo, Yan 'an, Yulin, Xi, Hubei, Jiangxi and Shaanxi.

1826 (six years of Daoguang) served as the governor of Anhui, and 1835 was promoted to the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. 1June, 836, Xu Naiji called for the abolition of opium. At first, he agreed that "relaxing the traffic ban is actually beneficial to the national economy and people's livelihood." Later, because Zhu Gui and Xu Qiu strongly advocated the influence of banning smoking, and witnessed the serious scourge of opium, in the spring of 1837, the ban was changed from relaxing to banning, and Guan Tianpei, the naval officer of the Advisory Council, "patrolled every rainy night" and "bravely killed the enemy, hell to pay".

At the beginning of 1839, Daoguang Emperor made up his mind to be honest with Lin Zexu, an imperial envoy, and actively assisted Lin Zexu in cracking down on opium smuggling, collecting opium, buying wooden chains and rectifying coastal defense, and became a close colleague of Lin Zexu.

Destroying Opium in Humen-Monument Witness

Lin Zexu Memorial of Humen

1, Humen monument destroys opium

Before the founding of New China, the commander of Humen Fortress erected a one-meter-high monument to the place where cigarettes were sold. But no one manages it, and the old site of the whole tobacco selling pool is overgrown with weeds and desolate. After the founding of New China, in order to commemorate the righteous act of exterminating opium in Humen and Lin Zexu, a great national hero, the Party and the government established the Lin Zexu Memorial Hall in the former site of 1957, and erected the "Lin Zexu Monument".

2. Humen Lin Zexu Memorial Hall

Humen Lin Zexu Memorial Hall is a memorial hall for historical figures to commemorate the national hero Lin Zexu. The former site of Lin Zexu's cigarette selling pool is located in the south of Koucun Village, Humen Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. The former site of Lin Zexu's cigarette selling pool is a national key cultural relic protection unit. 1957, the people's government established Lin Zexu Park and Lin Zexu Memorial Hall in the former site of the tobacco pond. 1972 Lin Zexu Park and Lin Zexu Memorial Hall were renamed Humen People's Anti-British Memorial Hall during the Opium War. 1985, restoration of Humen Linzexu Memorial Hall. The museum covers an area of nearly 40,000 square meters. The cultural relics collected in Humen Lin Zexu Memorial Hall mainly include: wooden stakes, wooden boards, opium smoking sets, Lin Zexu's handwriting and so on. The basic display of the museum, Lin Zexu's No Smoking, is divided into three parts: the situation before the Opium War; Sinful opium imports; Lin zexu and banning smoking in guangdong. The museum educates the audience in patriotism through lectures, publicity and video screening.

3. Humen Smoke Pool

Humen Yanchi

The destruction of opium in Humenchi is located at the estuary of Taiping Town, Dongguan County. The tobacco pond is adjacent to the Pearl River in the south, Niu Bei in the north and Zhenkou in the west. It was built to commemorate the heroic achievements of the people of China in resisting foreign aggression. 1839 From June 3 to June 25, Lin Zexu destroyed the opium collected here in public places by "soaking". The current cigarette selling pool was rebuilt by 1957. The objects and historical materials in the museum show unforgettable scenes of the Opium War.

From 65438 to 1930s, a large amount of opium was brought in, endangering the health of domestic people, and countless silver flowed out, leaving the country weak and the people poor. Emperor Qing Guang accepted Lin Zexu's memorial to ban smoking, and sent Lin Zexu to Guangzhou for investigation, forcing foreign opium dealers to hand over opium in Humen. In order to destroy these drugs, two large ponds, each 45 meters long, were specially built. Slate is paved at the bottom of the pool, and fence piles are nailed around it. A culvert was opened beside the pool, and a ditch was connected behind the pool. When destroying opium smoke, first store water in the pool, sprinkle salt into concentrated brine, put opium into the pool in batches and melt it with concentrated brine. Then add quicklime and stir, which will cause a reaction immediately. The explosion occurred, causing its decomposition and corrosion. Finally, the mixed waste residue was washed away with river water, leaving no drop. After about three weeks of history, opium was finally destroyed. From June 3 to June 25 1839, the relics such as pool boards and wooden stakes in the tobacco selling pool are now on display in opium war museum beside the pool.