Silk Silver Opium: The Trade with China that Changed History

by Michael Pembroke Hon Justice

Silk Silver Opium not only tells the fascinating stories of silk and tea, porcelain, silver and opium, missionaries, mercenaries and trade, but also what became inevitable – war and humiliation.

Much about China's modern relationship with the West is the product of its past inter-reactions, conflicts, victories and humiliations. The South China Sea was the place from where the ultimately destructive European sailing ships arrived. The Ryukyu Island chain was the place from where marauding Japanese pirates preyed mercilessly on China's east coast ports. Taiwan was where anti-Qing rebels established a stronghold in the seventeenth century. The story of imperial China's trading relationship with the West is a powerful tale, with clear implications for the future.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, China, Audiobook, Economics, Politics

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2025

Reviews

[Callan Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I would be so entertained by reading a whole chapter dedicated to the history of Porcelain, but here we are.

[Ben Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent pencil sketch of Chinese history between 1600 and 1900. As is stated up front, this isn’t a book of in-depth historical analysis, but rather a narrative history for the casual reader. If any critique could be levelled, the occasional reference to contemporary politics is distracting and underdeveloped and there isn’t much use of some contemporary scholarship using more Chinese sources.

[Leah Dickenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the pacing of the book and the device of using silk, silver and opium to shape the story.

One other big takeaway - of all the terrible outcomes of British imperialism we really don’t pay enough attention to the mess they made in China. In less than 100 years they managed to destroy the country.

[Kj Moodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the history of the world's trade with China.

[Tamara Baksht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare perspective on China and surrounding world: India, Arabia, and well written. Thoroughly enjoyed, thank you, Michael, for writing!

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have read Tai Pan and wondered, how much truth is in this? Then this book is for you.
It covers a lot in circa 300 pages including some of the history of Jardine.
Kept me turn the page.

[abuzade · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the last book l finished in 2025 and it was a good read!