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Why did the Yongzheng emperor ban opium in 1729?
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opium trade
The clipper ship Le-Rye-Moon, built for the opium trade, 19th-century wood engraving from the Illustrated London News.
The Yongzheng emperor prohibited the sale and smoking of opium in 1729 because the drug had become a significant social problem in China.1
Following the introduction of tobacco smoking from North America in the 17th century, the practice of smoking opium became increasingly popular throughout the country. This led to widespread addiction, which prompted the emperor to issue the ban. Despite this decree, the trade continued to flourish, eventually leading to further restrictions and the Opium Wars in the 19th century.1