Pearl Diving in China

Pearl diving has been a form of industry in China for thousands of years. Before the invention of modern equipment it was often very dangerous as divers were forced to dive to deep pearl grounds on the ocean floor. The reward was the beautiful and sometimes illustrious pearl. Seen as a form of wealth and prestige, the pearl has a long history in China and many other countries. Nero was said to let a perlen dissolve in his cup of wine before drinking.

In the very early days of Chinese pearl diving the divers had no methods to aid in their attempts to fetch pearls. They practiced “free diving” where they would fill their lungs with air, dive as deep as needed and stay down as long as they could while they searched for pearls. There were many dangers. Divers could become unconscious underwater from lack of oxygen and drown. The many dangerous creatures of the sea were always lurking about and the strong wind and tides sometimes produced killer waves.  Pearl divers in ancient China were almost always slaves diving for wealthy families of pearl brokers and wedding Brautschmuck.

A book has been found dating to the Ming Dynasty of China that discusses pearl diving. In the book, published in the 1600’s, the writer describes new techniques for pearl diving. He told how pearl divers were able to stay underwater for long periods of time because they used a long tube for breathing. In addition to the breathing tubes the divers were also anchored to the boat with a robe tied around their body. The ancient book includes illustrations that show the divers wearing a mask with the breathing tube.

As the centuries passed the technology for pearl divers did not advance. Oyster harvests were not static and new beds formed at different depths every year. Most beds were at a shallow ten feet but many of the better beds were at depths up to over one hundred feet. The equipment noted in one 19th century description of Chinese pearl diving describes the divers as oiling their bodies so they would not lose body heat. They plugged their noses with clips made from shell and plugged their ears with cotton. For the oysters they collected they were given a rope bag.

As the Chinese Empire expanded so did their quest for more and more pearls. They expanded their pearl diving enterprises to the coasts of other countries such as Australia. This expansionism of the Chinese pearl industry continued until after the Second World War when countries with the potential to create their own pearl diving industry did so.

The long history of China’s pearl industry is filled with drama and intrigue. The illustrious pearls were hard to find and very valuable. There are as many stories of the wars fought over pearls as there are stories of marriages signified by them.