When Silence Really Was Golden

“Silence is golden” can literally be interpreted as “silence can produce gold.” It’s not an unreasonable interpretation, because in the 18th century, silence really did produce gold. Silence, when done with intent, was even seen as a way for the elite to enjoy their leisure at the time.

The Sumerians of Mesopotamia had known about the “plant of joy,” or opium, since 3400 BC. Given their geography, it’s no surprise that Arab traders later introduced this happiness-inducing substance to mainland China. However, Ancient Chinese texts from the Tang Dynasty (617–907) record opium being used for medical purposes.

British traders of the time were looking for new ways to expand their markets. Around the same period, the British army had just conquered the Mughal Empire in India. They soon discovered that the Mughals were already familiar with opium—cultivating and consuming it among certain circles, particularly the nobility.

Britain had been trading with China since 1635, though their dealings weren’t conducted directly between British buyers and Chinese merchants. Under the Qing Dynasty’s trade system, only designated intermediaries were allowed to interact with foreign traders. 

Illustration: britannica.com

The British sold opium to these official Chinese brokers, and the silver they earned from such transactions was then used to buy Chinese silver—used as raw material for coinage. Meanwhile, Chinese traders secretly bartered silver for opium with the British, viewing the official broker system as a barrier to 'the real gold (profit)'.

Silence as a Commodity

Those who advocate for the legalization of certain addictive substances often argue, “Marijuana is God’s creation, and God made everything in this world for humans. So why are we forbidden from enjoying His creation?”

I used to be an active drug user several years ago—that’s just how my life went. The drugs I used most often were marijuana and Lexto pills (or sometimes trihexyphenidyl). I also experimented with meth and heroin.

Aside of that, I was an alcoholic for about a year and a half. Altogether, I spent roughly seven years chasing hallucinations, on and off through the years. There were breaks between my first encounter with drugs in 1999 and finally quitting for good in 2018—after discovering yoga and meditation.

My reason for trying drugs was probably the same as many other addicts out there: I wanted to escape the pain of reality. Because of love betrayed by a man. Because of a love story without a happy ending. Because of infidelity.

Not a story to be proud of :(

There’s something in opium, marijuana, and similar plants that helps quiet the restless, angry, and sorrowful voices inside us. Unlike alcohol, which tends to reveal one’s true nature and hidden truths, drugs often push users toward silence. For some heavy users, the silence they seek is a productive one—a mental stillness to explore possibilities and turn them into something tangible.

That’s why drug dealers sell their products—because there will always be people who can’t manage their emotions without turning inward too hard. They turn to drugs to calm themselves, to freeze their body and mind into stillness while their hallucinations soar sky-high.

But this isn’t always be the case in the world of drugs. Certain types are also used to help users work harder, especially in physically demanding jobs.

Whose Fault Was It?

The era of mass opium addiction in China is often depicted in late-1990s kung fu films set in historical China—one example being a sequel of Once Upon a Time in China (I forget which one) starring Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan. These films, produced in Hong Kong before its return from Britain to China, often carried strong anti-Western messages—understandably so.

Like the tangled threads of our social media timelines, it’s easy to blame Britain for deliberately addicting the Chinese people to opium in order to weaken them from within. The First Opium War—born from China’s growing dependence on the drug—was indeed won by Britain.

What many don’t know is that by the late 18th century, there was already an income imbalance between British and Chinese traders. Chinese merchants sold far more goods to the British than they bought in return (sound familiar?).

Like any savvy businesspeople, the British realized that opium was in high demand in China. They sold it because it was the only product Chinese traders were eager to buy. Since the Qing Dynasty had banned opium trade, the substance became scarce—and, naturally, its price soared. Chinese traders weren’t about to miss out on that golden opportunity. (dswas)