【外刊英语精读】紫砂壶 | purple clay pottery - 加尔讲英语

Artistry in Clay

陶土艺术的魅力

Yixing , Jiangsu province, is renowned as one of world's top producers of ceramics

江苏宜兴跻身全球十大艺术陶瓷城市

Hurun Global Ceramics listed its Top Ten Artistic Ceramic Cities Worldwide for 2023 during a recent ceremony in Shanghai. Among those honored was Yixing, Jiangsu province. Steeped in history, the city is one of China's oldest centers of ceramic craftsmanship, with a legacy of more than 7,000 years of pottery art.

在日前于上海举行的颁奖仪式上，胡润全球陶瓷榜发布了“2023全球十大艺术陶瓷城市”，江苏省宜兴市榜上有名。作为中国最古老的陶瓷工艺中心之一，宜兴拥有超过7000年的制陶历史，陶艺底蕴深厚。

Purple clay pottery emerged in Yixing during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) and flourished in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). 紫砂陶在宋朝兴起，并在明代和清代达到鼎盛。

After being extracted from the earth, raw purple clay is left exposed to the elements for many years, undergoing weathering from wind, rain and snow before it can be processed into ceramic beauty.

紫砂泥采出后，需在露天环境中经年累月地接受风吹、雨淋与雪打的自然风化，方可用于陶艺创作，化为精美器物。

In Yixing, purple clay was used initially to produce large vessels such as tanks, jars and bottles. As tea culture gained popularity, purple clay teapots and cups emerged during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and gradually became prevalent. These were often exported along with the tea.

早期，宜兴紫砂泥主要用于制作缸、坛、瓶等大型器皿。随着饮茶文化的盛行，紫砂壶与茶杯在明代（1368—1644年）应运而生，并逐渐流行开来，不少紫砂器还随茶叶一同出口海外。

Some products were modified from traditional shapes, while others featured intricate decorations created using complex techniques. Today, with the continuous expansion of Chinese cultural influence and export networks, purple clay tea ware has garnered a multitude of enthusiasts around the world. Purple clay is not always purple, but comes in various colors and forms. The firing temperature and crafting process influence the final product's hue.

紫砂器有的在传统造型基础上改良创新，有的则采用复杂工艺，雕饰精美。如今，伴随中国文化影响力和出口网络的不断扩展，紫砂茶具在全球收获了大量爱好者。 “紫砂”并非一定是紫色，呈现出丰富多样的变化，成品颜色因烧制温度和工艺流程而异。

The processed purple clay near Yixing's Dingshu township is particularly well-suited for creating ceramic products and has earned widespread renown. In many homes in Xiwang village, the clay is deftly kneaded by hand and shaped into exquisite pottery. As one wanders through the quaint lanes of the village, the eye is met with a multitude of purple clay studios.

宜兴丁蜀镇周边出产的紫砂泥质地优良，处理后尤其适宜陶艺创作，享誉中外。在西望村，不少家庭以手工方式将紫砂泥揉捏成型，制作出精致器物。漫步村中古香古色的小巷，可见众多紫砂工作室错落分布。

From a bygone era of poverty to its current status as a village supported by a prosperous industry, a succession of endeavors has given Fan Zefeng, the Party chief of Xiwang, a belief in the potency of the purple clay industry as the catalyst of a rural renaissance. Xiwang has established some 680 individual studios, five industrial bases and 26 artistic teams. The number of local artisans holding professional and technical titles has grown from fewer than 40 to more than 400.

从曾经的贫困村落蜕变为陶艺产业带动的富裕村庄，一系列努力让西望村党支部书记范泽锋更加坚定了“紫砂兴村”的信心。如今，西望村已发展出约680家个人工作室、5个产业基地和26支艺术团队，具有专业技术职称的陶艺工匠从最初的不到40人增长至400余人。

In the past, operations were often fragmented, resulting in problems with product quality, innovation and market outreach. These challenges were addressed with the establishment of the country's first cooperative society focusing on handmade purple clay ceramics, which significantly improved the raw material supply, technical training and brand packaging.

过去，紫砂产业曾因作坊分散而面临产品质量不稳定、缺乏创新与市场拓展能力弱等问题。为破解瓶颈，全国首个专注于手工紫砂陶瓷的合作社在此成立，有效提升了原料供应、技术培训及品牌包装水平。

Ji Yishun, a renowned Chinese master of ceramic art, said that Yixing purple clay has reached its zenith in modern times and is beloved for its breathable and impermeable qualities, allowing it to preserve the flavor of tea for extended periods.