Yunnan tobacco culture

Author: Shi Rong / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The pipe, locally known as a water pipe or large bamboo tube, resembles a 60mm mortar. Legend has it that during the Yuan Dynasty when Kublai Khan sent troops to conquer the Southern Nanzhou Kingdom of Dali, a spy reported to the general: "The Dian army is incredibly fierce, with each platoon equipped with over ten mountain mortars." This frightened the imperial forces from daring to advance. Another tale tells of how the pipes carried by soldiers of the Dian Army's 60th Corps once intimidated the Japanese invaders during the War of Resistance. Simply put, the pipe consists of two main parts: the water chamber for smoking and the whistle (a small neck tube for placing yellow tobacco and lighting).
There are numerous types of pipes, made from materials such as southern wood, cypress wood, bakelite, fir wood, bald cypress wood, plastic, copper skin, etc. However, the most valuable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing pipes are those made in Dali Prefecture from pure silver, Jinggu County in Simao Prefecture from cypress wood, Guangnan Prefecture in Wenshan Prefecture from golden bamboo, Baoshan from brass, Xichou from bald cypress wood, and Yuxi from aluminum. In rural Yunnan, many households own pipes, varying in size and material. Common water pipes are often made of bamboo, but some are crafted from copper, silver, wood, aluminum, or plastic. Even pipes made from artillery shells are found. Pipes crafted from artillery shells are lightweight, odorless, resistant to sun exposure, pest-proof, unbreakable, and durable, making them highly favored.
Jinggu County in Simao Prefecture is renowned for its cypress wood pipes, a traditional craft with a long history. The raw materials for making these pipes are selected with great care—only cypress wood with a long growth period, dense (dry heart), straight, without knots, and easy to carve is used. Cypress wood pipes come in various specifications and prices depending on their size and design. These pipes are highly practical, visually appealing, and embody distinct local characteristics and rich ethnic cultural features. Their production process includes material selection, hollowing, shaping, refining (sealing the ends, calibrating, adding rings), and hammering the whistle. The finished pipes are not only aesthetically pleasing but also portable, and are believed to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying effects. Their products are widely sold in Southeast Asia and have received praise from domestic and international customers.
"Silver blooms, brass gleams." Their value exceeds 1,000 yuan each, with annual sales reaching thousands. Pipe making has become a thriving industry for local villagers.
Guangnan Prefecture in Wenshan Prefecture has a history of pipe making spanning centuries. The golden bamboo pipes from Guangnan are distinguished by their preservation of the natural color of bamboo while being adorned with silver decorations and intricate carvings, such as orchids, bamboo branches, dragons, phoenixes, birds, fish, and beasts. These crafts have long been celebrated both within and beyond the province.
Baoshan's brass pipes are exquisitely crafted, with a medallion of the longevity symbol (Shengxingshou) soldered on the waist and inscriptions such as "Words like smoke dispel worries" and "Breathing mist reflects thoughts" carved at the top and bottom. Their craftsmanship is truly exceptional.
Xichou's bald cypress wood pipes feature swallow-shaped decorations on both sides of the middle ring, adorned with silver chains and counterweights. The mouthpiece is made of a golden bamboo node, with three pointed tips resembling Buddha's fingers at the top. The pipe body is wrapped in copper or silver bands, further embellished with decorations like lions and tigers. Their exquisite craftsmanship and beauty make them highly prized. When smoked, these pipes produce a crisp, melodious sound. Their value was once so high that it caused a stir in the region. It is said that bald cypress wood contains glycerol, and smoking from such pipes has cancer-preventive effects.
"The pipe and I are inseparable,
Two hands tightly embrace its waist,
Loving, longing, kissing you,
The fragrance of smoke intoxicates my heart.
Often I think of you in leisure,
In busyness, you rest by the corner,
When guests arrive, you welcome them,
Listening to your singing." P032