The water bong, also known as "water pipe" "hookah" or "narghile", is a traditional way of smoking. Generally speaking, smoking water bong is viewed in a more positive light than smoking cigarettes, as the smoke is filtered through the water before entering the mouth, which can alleviate the harmful effects of the tar and nicotine contained in the tobacco.

The water bong consists of six parts: smoke tube, suck tube, the bong (water container), tobacco holder, carb and hand splint. The bong is essentially a sealed chamber.

To smoke, first the bong is half-filled with water. A tube with a tobacco holder on the end is inserted in the chamber and the water, while another tube with a mouthpiece o n the end is also inserted yet remaining above the water level. Shredded tobacco is put onto the tobacco holder, and then lit. The smoker then sucks on the mouthpiece. This lowers the air pressure in the chamber, causing air to travel from the bowl, through the water, into the chamber and into the lungs, pulling the smoke with it. The water both cools the smoke and filter quite a few carcinogens from it, and the smoker usually gets a couple of tokes after the chamber is filled with smoke.

Prior to the emergence of water bong, there was the practice of smoking with water in the mouth. The case is recorded in Lu Yao's "Chronicle of Tobacco" during the Qinglong Reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911): "Hold some water in the mouth, and then smoke the tobacco. In this way, the harmful effects of the tobacco can be alleviated… hold some water within a tin container and insert a pipe into the water, through which the smoke can also be filtered, achieving the same result as the method of holding water in the mouth."

Although water bongs are mostly made of cupronickel, there are also ones made of black bronze, copper brass or tin. The water bongs are usually exquisitely designed, especially those used by the rich people, with emerald or agate tobacco holders and gold or silver-decorated bongs. In the rural areas, however, there are bamboo water bongs, which have a kind of rustic and unique beauty.

Water bongs have a fascinating history. For example, the Empress Dowager Cixi took a special fancy to smoking water bongs, and the water pipes she once used are still on display in the Palace Museum.

Page:

1

2