21
0Jingdezhen is a city built on white gold
景德镇是一座用“白色黄金”建造的城市
There are a number of things one might associate with the history and culture of China: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the cuisine. But there is perhaps one that stands out above all others in the minds of those in English-speaking countries, to the point where it is known by the same name as the country itself, and that is china.
有很多东西可能会与中国的历史文化联系在一起：长城、紫禁城、美食。但也许有一个东西在英语国家人心目中最为突出，甚至与这个国家同名，那就是瓷器。
The beauty of this china, or porcelain, was, and still is, renowned across the globe. It was once exported throughout Asia and the wider world along the Silk Road and other trade routes, and perhaps the most interesting aspect of this, is that it all hailed from a small town in Jiangxi province named Jingdezhen.
瓷器之美一如既往地享誉全球，它曾经沿着丝绸之路等贸易路线出口遍布整个亚洲以及更为广阔地世界，但更有趣的是，瓷器全部来自江西省景德镇。
Originally known as Changnan, due to its proximity to the Chang River, the area has been producing porcelain for over a thousand years. Using the river to transport the necessary raw materials and to export the finished products, the town soon grew in size and importance.
因靠近昌江，景德镇原名昌南，生产瓷器已有一千多年的历史。利用河流运输必要的原材料并出口成品，该镇规模扩大、重要性增强。
During the Liao Dynasty, Emperor Zhenzong was enchanted by the area's porcelain products and gave his permission for its ceramics to bear his name moving forward. The town was then renamed after the emperor's reign "Jingde", along with the suffix "zhen", meaning town.
辽代时期，真宗皇帝对该地瓷器产品着迷，允许冠以他的名字继续发展。依照皇帝年号，该镇改名为“景德”，并加以后缀“镇”。
Jingdezhen went on to have a fascinating and storied history that I confess I knew next to nothing about until having the chance to visit recently as part of a media tour. Throughout my tour, I soon learned the true value and importance of Jingdezhen and the industry that permeates through every corner of its streets. It was a trip packed with visits to porcelain museums, art villages and ceramic galleries, where I even got to see the Speechless Buddha sculpture, which has become a recent viral hit online.
景德镇历史引人入胜、广为人知，但我承认对其几乎一无所知，直到最近在媒体之旅中有机会参观景德镇。在这次旅行中，我很快了解到景德镇及其瓷器行业的真正价值以及重要性，该行业遍布这座城镇的角角落落。这次旅行中，我参观了大量的瓷器博物馆、艺术村以及陶瓷美术馆，在那里我还看到了最近在网上走红的“无语菩萨”雕塑。
Despite learning a great deal about the porcelain industry and its history through this tour, it wasn't until I took to the streets in the early morning for a run, that I got a real feel for Jingdezhen itself. This white clay runs proudly through the veins of Jingdezhen and in the short time I was there, it became abundantly clear how vital this industry was, and still is, to the city, and the importance of the city in the history of porcelain and its current revival.
尽管通过这次游览对瓷器行业和瓷器历史了解了很多，但直到清晨我上街跑步，我才对景德镇有了真正的感受。陶瓷自豪地流淌在景德镇的脉络中，尽管只是在那里稍作停留，我却清楚地认识到瓷器行业在过去和现在对景德镇的重要性，以及景德镇在瓷器历史以及当下复兴之中的重要性。
Jingdezhen is a beacon for young artists and creatives looking to hone their skills in the heart of the porcelain industry. A unique atmosphere and burgeoning arts scene fills the city and gives it a flavor unlike many of China's larger cities, which focus on the fast-paced world of modern business and industry.
对于那些希望在瓷器行业重镇磨练技能的年轻艺术家和创意人士来说，景德镇是一座灯塔。独特的氛围和蓬勃发展的艺术气息充斥着这座城市，并赋予了它与中国许多大城市不同的风情，这些大城市专注于快节奏的现代工商业。
