鴉片貿易與安平港關係之研究

Research the relationship of An-ping and opium trade

從清朝初期到1895年為止，鴉片煙在臺灣流行不過是這一二百年之間的事。自從安平開港通商之後，鴉片就是洋行進口的最大宗商品，為洋行賺進大量利潤。本文試圖從清代官員記錄、領事資料等，討論鴉片在臺灣的流傳，以及在安平的販售狀態、使用情形，以瞭解鴉片與安平之間的關係。
本文認為，安平成為鴉片進口最大量之地，是因為府城為政治經濟中心，以及府城吸食鴉片人口眾多之因。開港通商後，洋行可自由選擇於打狗或安平輸入鴉片，兩者對洋行而言都是極大的貿易市場。唯府城是當時的政治與經濟重心，因為長久經商之故，使得府城人民能負擔起奢侈品，也有經濟能力吸食鴉片，洋行判斷鴉片的主要消費市場與買辦合作對象在府城，加上運輸成本、風險、政治交涉考量，領事與洋行設於道臺駐守之地，似乎是最符合商業利益的方式。
除此之外，安平港主要進口奢侈品的現象應在開港通商時期已出現，才能在日治時期依然維持進口成長的數字，不因政權轉換而沒落。此一現象亦表示安平港的腹地府城，至少在洋行來臺灣之前，就是奢侈品的消費地，洋行意識到安平與打狗兩港貿易性質與顧客群不一樣，因此將鴉片集中於安平上岸，安平才成為臺灣鴉片最大集散地。

The trend of taking Opium has only been popular within the one to two hundred years from the Ching Dynasty to 1895. After An-Ping opened its ports to merchants and trade, Opium has become one of the main imported products of foreign firms and brought about a generous amount of profit. This article aims to discuss the flow of Opium in Taiwan based on the records of Ching Dynasty governmental documents and Consuls information. The marketing and use of Opium in An-Ping and the relation between Opium and this area shall also be looked into.
This article points out that An-Ping became the most active place for Opium import. This was because Tainan was the center of finance and governing back then and there were many people who used Opium. Foreign firms could choose to import Opium from Da-Gou or An-Ping after ports were opened to trade, both were giant trade markets. Being the center of finance and governing, business has long thrived in Tainan which allowed people within to afford such luxuries. Foreign firms identified Tainan as their main market and potential compradors. Tainan was the place that could bring most profit with transport, risk, and politics taken into account.
In addition, An-Ping was the port that imported the largest amount of luxurious goods ever since ports were open to trade, which helped it maintain a steady growth in import even during Japanese colonialism. This meant that the market of An-Ping lay in Tainan and people consumed luxuries long before foreign firms arrived. Foreign firms noticed that marketing and customers in both ports were different, which resulted in An-Ping being the main port for Opium import.