Hidden Gem In Central Plains

Text &Translations by Weng Rong Photos by Zengjian

Hidden Gem In Central Plains

Text &Translations by Weng Rong Photos by Zengjian

中原藏寶

Xiuwu - the cultural centre of the district of the Yellow River - continues to bring to the world various forms of art pieces.

The art of Xiuwu is neither too close to the capital, nor is it too far away to be considered isolated. By keeping a comfortable distance from the madding crowd, it waits patiently for those looking for peace of mind.

修武之藝，得益于黃河文化中心區地緣之利，更得益于山水自然的恩賜。

不似廟堂之高，亦不似江湖之遠，像一枚藏于河洛之間、太行腳下的璞玉，恬然生長，靜待世人的偶遇。

Yang Tianliang

Ex-Curator of Xiuwu Cultural Relics Museum

楊天亮

修武縣文物博物館原館長

A Thousand Years of Free Spirit

NIHAO: Why did the “seven sages of bamboo grove” choose Xiuwu as their place of seclusion?

Yang:Xiuwu is close to both Luoyang and Xuchang, the capital and second capital of the country at the time, which made it convenient for the sages to stay up-to-date with current affairs. In addition, Jia Kang and Wang Rong (two main member of seven sages of bamboo grove ) came from notable families that possessed land in the area. Unlike poet Tao Yuanming, who quit his official position and lived a peaceful life in the countryside, the “seven sages” retreated to avoid the dangerous political situation in the capital city. Instead of fighting against the current, they chose to stay somewhere safe, where they could maintain their peace of mind, whilst expressing their anguish via poems and songs. The quiet and beautiful environment in Xiuwu surely was another reason for them to come. Also, they could find all kinds ofherbs that they needed to invent the pills that they believed would help them achieve immortality.

NIHAO: What impact did the sages have on Xiuwu?

Yang:They have left a great amount of cultural relics such as the stone terrace that Liu Ling used to sober up on, the pond where Ji Kang used to make swords, etc… Apart from historic relics, the sages have also greatly influenced the later generations with their free spirit and their attitude towards corruption and evil. Take myself as an example - I have learnt to chase after things that I have true passion for, since the sages have taught us to follow one's natural character.

Around 1,700 years ago, seven young and talented poets, musicians and scholars came to live in seclusion in Yuntai Mountain. Their days consisted of drinking, sightseeing, writing, and having debates on metaphysics. They were later named the “seven sages of bamboo grove”.

1700多年前，竹林七賢隱居百家巖，寄情山水，飲酒談玄。

千年魏晉風

NIHAO：為什么竹林七賢會選擇到修武隱居？

楊：首先，這里靠近陪都許昌和京都洛陽，且嵇康的妻子長樂亭公主、王戎在此皆有封地。山濤和向秀的家也在距此幾十里的懷縣。與陶淵明不一樣的是，竹林七賢并非想完全出世。他們表面上遠離官場，實際上仍然憂心政治,無奈當時政治環境兇險，唯有選擇在離政治中心不遠的地方隱居，用詩曲宣泄苦悶與憂生之嗟。其次，修武環境清幽，竹林廣袤，云臺山上有很多藥草，是很多修道煉丹之人聚集地，所以，非常適合修道談玄。

NIHAO：竹林七賢給修武留下什么印記？

楊：從歷史遺跡上說，竹林七賢在百家巖留下了嵇山、劉伶醒酒臺、嵇康淬劍池等大量遺跡，為修武縣留下珍貴的文化遺產。從思想上看，竹林七賢清峻達觀、不與腐敗政治同流合污的瀟灑風骨和自由的人格精神，持續引發后人的深思與向往。比如，我本人在多年研究竹林七賢思想的過程中，也逐漸變成了一個更豁達的人，做自己熱愛的事情。竹林七賢所推崇的“自然本性”，也潛移默化地留存下來，修武人普遍很重視修身養性。

Chai Zhanzhu

Inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage - porcelain with twistable clay body

柴戰柱

絞胎瓷制作技藝國家級傳承人

Gentleman Porcelain

NIHAO: What are the main features of Dangyangyu kiln porcelain with a twistable clay body?

Chai:Dangyangyu Kiln porcelains are especially famous for their patterns, which are exactly the same from the inside out. To create this kind of effect, the potter arranges and mixes different colours of clay together, instead of painting or engraving on the surface of the ceramics. Chinese Philosopher Mencius famously said: “A gentleman's appearance corresponds to the inside.” It is because of this feature that porcelain with twistable clay is also called “gentleman porcelain”. Its second biggest feature is its more than 160 kinds of sophisticated patterns. Apart from traditional patterns like lotus, birds and beasts, Dangyangyu kiln has also come up with many unique patterns, such as tadpoles and splashes of water.

NIHAO: What made Xiuwu the centre of porcelain making in the past?

Chai:In the Northern Song Dynasty, Xiuwu became the porcelain manufacturing centre. The area was apt for three reasons: its suitable porcelain clay, convenient water transport network, and its extensive history of pottery making. Xiuwu is one of the birthplaces of Chinese porcelain. Ning Fengzi, the first pottery minister in China's history was born in Xiuwu, during the Emperor Huang dynasty. With his influence, Xiuwu came up with plenty of skilled potters, who formed a complete industry chain with the local Dangyangyu kiln. They invented porcelains with solid clay body and a shiny glaze. Meanwhile, Xiuwu was close to the political centre at that time. A lot of masterpieces produced in Xiuwu had been sent to the imperial palace. This is also why Dangyangyu porcelain offers an accurate taste of the royal class in Northern Song Dynasty.

NIHAO: What are the main difficulties in producing porcelain with a twistable clay body?

Chai:The hardest part is burning the semi-finished product. Different colours of clay have different swell factors when under 1200 degree centigrade. Even slightly over-heated could lead to cracking. Its high production cost inevitably also led to a higher retail price than other types of porcelain. That's why Dangyangyu porcelain used to be a luxury that only the aristocracy have access to.

瓷中君子

NIHAO: 當陽峪窯絞胎瓷有什么藝術特點？

柴：絞胎瓷最大的特點在于它的紋飾“表里如一”：通過將不同顏色的泥土盤編糅合，制作者在瓷胎里直接做出紋飾，而非在表面進行剔劃繪畫，因此，作品不論是從內部還是從外部看，花紋都一模一樣。絞胎瓷也因此被稱為“君子瓷”，具有美好的象征意義。絞胎瓷的第二大特點是其紋飾復雜、考究。除了蓮花水藻紋、鳥獸紋、麥穗紋等紋理外，當陽峪窯絞胎瓷還發展出了蝌蚪紋、散點紋等獨具特色的紋飾品種。它的裝飾品種達160多種，代表了當時最高的制作工藝。

NIHAO： 修武為什么能夠成為當時的瓷都？

柴：北宋時，修武成為中原地帶的重要瓷都，一方面因瓷土豐富、水運網絡發達，另一方面是因為修武有著悠久的制陶歷史。黃帝時期，中國歷史上第一任陶正（制陶官）寧封子便生于修武，使得當地出了很多技藝高超的工匠。修武當陽峪窯在此地形成產業，發展出胎質細密堅硬，釉色油潤光亮的絞胎瓷，可以說是我國陶瓷文化的根源所在。其次，它離當時的政治中心近，多數出品運進皇宮，也代表和引領那個時代對瓷器的審美喜好。

NIHAO：絞胎瓷制作主要難點在哪？

柴：絞胎瓷制作成品率低，最大的難度在燒制上。不同顏色的胎泥在1200度高溫下的膨脹系數不一樣，一旦燒制過度則容易開裂，制作成本和價格更高，也因此限制了絞胎瓷的發展和普及。長久以來，絞胎瓷都只作為王公貴族使用的奢侈品。

The production process mainly takes four steps: firstly, mix, fold, roll and chip the unneeded debris; next, stretch and mould press the clay into shape, forming a colourful clay body; thirdly, creating a flowing pattern by spinning the clay body; lastly, burn the semi-finished work in the kiln.

絞胎瓷的制作大致分為四個步驟：首先，把各種顏色的胎泥交替糅合、折疊、盤卷、切刮，經拉坯或模壓成型；然后，粘貼、鑲嵌、拼接成一個多色相間的坯體；接著，借助外力施彩，使彩料在胎體的傾斜狀態或旋轉運動中，形成具有流動美的絞花紋飾；最后再入窯燒制。

Preserving the Past

NIHAO: Why are Wuliyuan preserved duck eggs especially delicious?

Li:The eggs' taste is largely benefited from the rivers and mountains nearby. Taihang Mountains have contributed to many streams and fertile soil around Wuliyuan district, which is beneficial for breeding ducks. Besides, the mountain spring water is full of mineral substances and microelements, including a parasite called “live stone”. After eating this kind of parasite, ducks in this area produce bigger and more nutritious eggs with thinner shells and a red yolk. Also, the well water used during the manufacturing process is cool and sweet, giving a better taste to the preserved eggs. Last but not least, the wood ashes and alkali used are specially collected in Xiuwu. Only this kind of alkali can give birth to the beautiful pine-twig, cedar leaves patterns on the albumen.

NIHAO: How did you pass down the techniques of making Wuliyuan preserved eggs?

Li:The traditional method has been passed down from the generations for the past 800 years. I am its 13thinheritor. Apart from Xiuwu's suitable environment, to make a Wuliyuan preserved egg requires good skills, including a good control of the alkalinity. And these techniques have been taught from fathers to sons. At first, Wuliyuan preserved eggs were only famous in town. Thanks to word of mouth, its good reputation gradually spread out of Henan Province, and soon became a tribute to the royal class. While the need for Wuliyuan preserved eggs grew, they became more valuable, and it sometimes took three to five months for an order to be completed. This is because the manufacturing process is done by hand. Now that the traditional method has been listed amongst Henan Province's intangible cultural heritages, I am convinced that Wuliyuan preserved eggs will one day become popular around the world.

百年松花蛋

NIHAO: 五里源松花蛋為什么特別好吃？

李：修武依山傍水，八百里太行山的山水形成眾多溪流，在五里源地區形成水洼和肥沃的土壤，有利于鴨子的養殖。另外，這里的山泉水含有豐富的礦物質和微量元素，其中包括一種叫“活石頭”的寄生生物。該地區的鴨子吃了這種蟲子后產下的蛋不僅個頭大，皮薄，紅心，營養價值也高。而制作過程中使用的地下井水也冰冷清甜，使得松花蛋口感更好。此外，五里源松花蛋采用修武特有的山柴灰和土堿等配料，蛋清經過結晶反應，出現像松枝一樣的美麗圖案。

NIHAO: 五里源松花蛋是如何傳承下來的？

李：它的傳統制作方法以父傳子輩的形式流傳至今已經800多年，傳到我這里已經是第13代了。除了需要修武得天獨厚的生產環境以外，它制作的難度主要在于含堿量的調配，其把控技巧有賴于家族秘傳與多年的經驗。最初，五里源松花蛋只在鄉里有名，后來經過當地百姓口口相傳，名聲逐漸傳出省外，被推薦為進京貢品。全國上下訂做松花蛋的人越來越多，而因為它的制作工藝復雜，不能用機器大批量生產，所以最忙的時候一個訂單需要等三五個月才能輪到。現在，五里源松花蛋已被列入河南省非物質文化遺產保護名錄，也在全國乃至世界各地越來越有名氣。

Li Guoshun

Inheritor of Wuliyuan preserved eggs, intangible cultural heritage in Henan Province

李國順

五里源松花蛋技藝省級非遺傳承人

The well water, duck eggs, alkali, etc. used to produce Wuliyuan preserved eggs can only been found in Xiuwu.用于制作五里源松花蛋的井水、鴨蛋、土堿等都是修武特有的。