Nose pipe [Fine]

Author: Li Jiufang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-12-01
Features: The habit of inhaling snuff originated from the Native Americans in America. They mixed processed tobacco leaves with flowers and other plants, grinding them into powder for inhalation, which was said to relieve fatigue, cure headaches, and alleviate colds. In the early 16th century, after Columbus's second voyage to the American continent, he introduced the techniques of growing tobacco and making snuff to Europe. Subsequently, the habit of inhaling snuff gradually spread in Europe and was highly favored by the nobility. According to historical records and the analysis of physical artifacts, the earliest appearance of snuff and snuff boxes in China should be during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1662–1722). The book Xiangzu Biji, published in the 44th year of Kangxi's reign (1705), records: "Recently, in the capital, there have been those who make snuff, claiming it can improve eyesight and has the effect of warding off epidemics. They store it in glass bottles, which come in various shapes and colors—red, purple, yellow, white, black, and green. Some are as clear as crystal, others as red as a sunset, and they are highly prized. They use ivory spoons to inhale the snuff and then return the spoon to the bottle. These are all made by the imperial workshops, and while the common people have imitated them, they are never as good." The author of this book, Wang Shizhen, was a high-ranking official during the Kangxi era and had extensive knowledge of the imperial court. The details he recorded are likely reliable. Additionally, according to relevant records, in the 23rd year of Kangxi's reign (1684), the emperor made his first southern inspection and met the Western missionaries Bi Jia and Wang Ruwang in Jiangning (now Nanjing). The two presented valuable gifts brought from the West to the Kangxi emperor, including snuff. This indicates that snuff was introduced to China during the Kangxi era with the arrival of Western missionaries and first became popular among the imperial family and nobility. It was not until the 18th century that it spread to the general populace.