Traditional Firing Techniques of Longquan Celadon龍泉青瓷傳統(tǒng)燒制技藝

More than 700 years ago， a ship loaded with porcelain sank off the coast of southeast China’s Fujian province during a voyage overseas.

700多年前，一艘滿載瓷器的船舶在一次出海時沉沒于中國東南部福建省的海岸附近。

The wreckage of this Yuan dynasty （1271—1368） vessel was found 30 meters underwater in 2010， near the islet of Shengbeiyu in Fujian. The salvage work began in 2022， with archaeologists having so far retrieved about 20，000 items， among which over 17，000 are Longquan celadon.

2010年，這艘元代（1271—1368）船舶的殘骸在福建圣杯嶼附近海面以下30米被發(fā)現(xiàn)。打撈工作于2022年開始，考古人員至今已打撈出近2萬件文物，其中超過1.7萬件為龍泉青瓷。

But， where was the ship going？ Why was it loaded with so much porcelain？ Were the items made as commodities？ Who made them？ And what exactly is Longquan celadon？

但是，這艘船當(dāng)時是駛向何處的？它為什么會裝載如此之多的瓷器？這些物品是作為商品制造的嗎？它們是誰制造的？龍泉青瓷究竟是什么？

Based on archaeological findings at an ancient port about 700 kilometers away in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou， Zhejiang province， as well as some highly similar porcelain items discovered in Southeast Asia， experts concluded that the vessel is likely to have been a merchant ship traveling from Wenzhou to Southeast Asia.

根據(jù)約700公里外中國東部浙江省溫州市一個古代港口的考古發(fā)現(xiàn)，以及在東南亞發(fā)現(xiàn)的一些高度相似的瓷器，專家推斷，這艘船可能是從溫州開往東南亞的商船。

In the 13th and 14th centuries， the Yuan dynasty authorities encouraged overseas trade， and the Longquan celadon industry was prosperous at the time， accounting for a large part of ceramic exports. Historical documents show that Wenzhou was a major port for exporting celadon， which was also sold to Africa and Europe.

在13、14世紀(jì)，元代官府鼓勵海外貿(mào)易，龍泉青瓷業(yè)在當(dāng)時頗為興旺，在瓷器出口中占到很大份額。歷史文獻(xiàn)顯示，溫州是青瓷出口的主要港口，青瓷也銷往非洲和歐洲。

Longquan， a small town in ancient times， refers to today’s mountainous Longquan city in east China’s Zhe-jiang province. Produced in this area and achieving fame across the world， Longquan celadon is a type of green-glazed Chinese porcelain with a history of 1，700 years， beginning in the 3rd century.

龍泉在古時是一個小鎮(zhèn)，今為中國東部浙江省的山城龍泉市。龍泉青瓷是中國的一種青釉瓷器，產(chǎn)自龍泉地區(qū)，享譽世界。其歷史可追溯至公元3世紀(jì)，至今已有1700年。

Although it originated during the Jin dynasty （265—420）， Longquan celadon was not produced on a large-scale until the late 10th century during the Northern Song dynasty （960—1127）. Since the 10th century in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms （907—960） period， Longquan celadon was often selected as tribute gifts for emperors and royal families.

雖說龍泉青瓷起源于晉朝（265—420），但直到10世紀(jì)晚期的北宋（960—1127）才開始大規(guī)模燒制。自10世紀(jì)的五代十國時期（907—960）開始，龍泉青瓷就常被選為進(jìn)獻(xiàn)給皇帝和皇家的貢品。

Later in 1138 in the Southern Song dynasty （1127—1279）， the emperor moved the capital from north China to the southern city of Hangzhou， close to Longquan. The relocation was due to wars and political instability， resulting in a great number of people also travelling south. Among them， there were many skillful porcelain craftsmen and large-kiln owners， who integrated their techniques and businesses with locals， significantly boosting the local celadon industry. As such， Longquan celadon manufacturing quickly reached its peak of development and the area became the center of the porcelain industry.

后來，在南宋時期（1127—1279），1138年，皇帝將國都從中國北方遷至靠近龍泉的南方城市杭州（當(dāng)時稱臨安——注）。遷都是由于戰(zhàn)亂頻仍、朝局動蕩，這導(dǎo)致大量人口也隨之南遷。其中就有許多技藝精湛的制瓷工匠和大型瓷窯窯主，他們的技藝和生意與當(dāng)?shù)厝诤希瑯O大地促進(jìn)了當(dāng)?shù)厍啻蓸I(yè)。就這樣，龍泉青瓷的燒制技藝很快發(fā)展到巔峰狀態(tài)，該地區(qū)成為制瓷業(yè)的中心。

In the following Yuan dynasty and early Ming dynasty （1368—1644）， Longquan celadon continued to develop， with some masterpieces from that time surviving to the present day. From the mid to late Ming dynasty， its production experienced a decline due to major social changes and the emergence of new types of porcelain， such as Jingdezhen ceramics. When China began its reform and opening-up in 1978， Longquan celadon once again regained its momentum.

在接下來的元朝以及明朝（1368—1644）早期，龍泉青瓷持續(xù)發(fā)展，當(dāng)時的一些經(jīng)典之作得以留存至今。從明朝中晚期開始，由于重大社會變故以及景德鎮(zhèn)瓷器等新型瓷器的涌現(xiàn)，龍泉青瓷的產(chǎn)量逐漸減少。中國于1978年開始改革開放，龍泉青瓷再次煥發(fā)活力。

In 2006， traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon were selected among the first batch of China’s national-level intangible cultural heritage. Three years later， the techniques were also inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

2006年，龍泉青瓷傳統(tǒng)燒制技藝入選中國首批國家級非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)。三年后，這套技藝于2009年也被列入聯(lián)合國教科文組織的人類非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)代表作名錄。

The Chinese characters 龍 （“l(fā)ong”）， referring to the loong （Chinese dragon） and a symbol of the emperor， 泉 （“quan”）， meaning spring or spring water， 青 （“qing”）， denoting blue or green， and 瓷 （“ci”）， signifying porcelain， combine to form the keywords for understanding Longquan celadon.

漢字“龍”指中國龍，也是皇帝的象征；“泉”義為泉水；“青”指代藍(lán)色或綠色；“瓷”即為瓷器，四個字合起來就形成了理解龍泉青瓷的關(guān)鍵詞。

Longquan has deep forests， high mountains， clear rivers and smooth waterways， providing the necessary fuel， raw materials， water and transportation access for the porcelain business. Traditionally， craftsmen used local materials such as violet-golden clay and a mixture of burnt feldspar， limestone， quartz and plant ash to make celadon.

龍泉地區(qū)林深山高、河清水暢，為制瓷業(yè)提供了必要的燃料、原料、水源以及運輸通道。傳統(tǒng)上，工匠會使用紫金土以及煅燒過的長石、石灰石、石英和植物灰混合物等本地原料來制作青瓷。

The production process mainly consists of ingredient mixing， molding， shape refining， decorating， glazing and firing. Thick glazed products require several layers of glaze， which are fired in a repeated cycle of heating and cooling four or five times， leaving 10 or even more layers. The firing temperature may reach as high as 1，310 degrees Celsius， as temperatures higher than 1，250 degrees Celsius will help produce the best jade-like green or blue colors.

制作過程主要分為配料、成型、修坯、裝飾、施釉、燒制等環(huán)節(jié)。厚釉瓷器需要施多層釉料，經(jīng)過四五次反復(fù)加熱、冷卻循環(huán)燒制，最終會有10層以上的釉。燒制溫度可能高達(dá)1310攝氏度，因為高于1250攝氏度的窯溫有助于燒制出最好看的色澤，即類似玉石的青綠色。

Longquan celadon is usually classified into two styles： “elder brother” celadon and the “younger brother” variety. The story goes that two brothers during the Southern Song dynasty developed the two types. However， there is a lack of specific historical evidence proving the tale. “Elder brother” celadon has a dark body and a crackle effect. The color of the glaze usually looks like cream or ivory tending to grey or brown， with little green in it. Meanwhile， the “younger brother” variety is known for its masterpieces in jade-like green， among which are the most treasured fenqing （light milky-green or blue） and meiqing （plum green） glazes. These colors come from iron oxide fired in the kilns while varying the firing techniques such as the control of the timing and temperature.

龍泉青瓷通常分為兩種風(fēng)格：哥窯和弟窯。據(jù)說南宋年間的兄弟二人創(chuàng)制了這兩種青瓷，但該傳說缺乏具體史料證據(jù)的支持。哥窯青瓷胎體呈深色，有開片效果。其釉色通常看起來像偏灰或偏棕的米色或象牙色，其中很少帶有綠色。弟窯青瓷則以玉石般的青綠色杰作而聞名，其中最珍貴的當(dāng)屬粉青（乳濁的淡天青色）和梅青（梅子青色）。這些釉色源自窯中被煅燒的氧化鐵通過控制時間點和窯溫改變燒制工藝而形成。

A piece of Longquan celadon made during the Southern Song period is one of the most valuable items in Zhejiang Provincial Museum. The boat-shaped water dropper， a device used in ancient China to add water on inkstones when grinding ink sticks， is 16.2 centimeters long， 6.5 cm wide and 9.1 cm high. It features carved columns， a pavilion and a shelter. Two passengers seem to be chatting inside the pavilion， and the boatman looks to be reaching for his bamboo hat which is on the roof， while his robe flows in the wind.

南宋時期制成的一件龍泉青瓷器是浙江省博物館的最珍貴的文物之一。這件舟形硯滴（中國古代用于研墨時為硯臺添水的器具）長16.2厘米，寬6.5厘米，高9.1厘米，上面有雕花欄桿、亭式船艙、艄棚。船艙內(nèi)兩人似在交談，而艄公像是要去取棚頂?shù)闹耋?，他的衣袍在隨風(fēng)飄拂。

Cai Naiwu， a ceramics expert at the museum， explained that this unique celadon water dropper is particularly exquisite， showcasing a high level of Longquan celadon manufacturing. The item was probably custom-made for a member of the literati， which was a common practice at the time.

該博物館的陶瓷鑒定專家蔡乃武解釋說，這件獨特的青瓷硯滴特別精美，展現(xiàn)了龍泉青瓷高超的燒制水平。這件物品可能是為某位文人定制，這在當(dāng)時也是一種常見做法。

Longquan celadon was not used only by the imperial family in ancient times， but also by ordinary people. Large kilns were able to produce sufficient quantities of items for use in the home， containing no harmful substances like lead or cadmium. Nowadays， ancient Longquan celadon masterworks are still treasured by museums and collectors， while modern celadon wares are commonly used in daily life. Leaders of the Chinese government also often choose modern celadon items as traditional and valuable presents for foreign dignitaries and friends.

龍泉青瓷在古代不僅為皇家所用，平常人家也會使用。大型窯爐能燒制出足量的家用物品，且不含鉛、鎘等有害物質(zhì)。如今，古代龍泉青瓷的經(jīng)典之作仍為博物館和收藏家所珍藏，而現(xiàn)代青瓷器具則在日常生活中普遍使用。中國政府領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人也經(jīng)常選擇現(xiàn)代青瓷制品作為珍貴的傳統(tǒng)禮物贈送給外國政要和友人。

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎?wù)撸?/p>