EZCNN 易英网

Knock on Wood: Wood Carving in Taiwan 福木双至：台湾木雕

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Wood carving is one branch of Taiwan’s long tradition of folk art. Along with pottery, puppet shows and traveling Chinese opera troupes, wood carving expresses the history, culture, and spirituality of ordinary Taiwanese people. Aboriginal Taiwanese were the first carvers in Taiwan, but in the early twentieth century, the Japanese introduced new wood carving techniques and styles to Taiwanese artisans. Today, Taiwan continues to produce fine wood carving in both the aboriginal and Chinese traditions.

台湾民间艺术的传统渊远流长，木雕是其中一支。除了制陶、木偶戏以及四处表演的中国戏班子，木雕呈现了一般台湾人民的历史、文化和精神。台湾最早开始从事木雕的是台湾原住民，但在廿世纪初年，日本人向台湾工匠引进了新的木雕技术及风格。今日，台湾持续生产具原住民及中国传统风格的精美木雕。

At first, Taiwanese carvers used their new knowledge to turn out tea plates and screens to sell to the Japanese. However, workmanship improved rapidly and carvers began producing beautiful furniture, temple fixtures, and sculptures of Chinese gods. Modern carvers still create more individually-styled carvings of nature scenes and abstract forms.

起初，台湾木雕师用新知识制造茶具托盘及木雕屏风以外销日本。然而，随着技艺的快速精进，木雕师开始生产精美的家具、庙饰以及中国神像雕塑。现代木雕师依旧生产具实用性的木制品，但他们也创作更多表现自然景观及抽象形体，标示个人风格的作品。

The best place to see Taiwan’s Chinese tradition of wood carving firsthand is the quiet town of Sanyi. The area’s camphor groves began attracting carvers in the 1920s and woodworking soon developed into the lifeblood of Sanyi. Carvers prize camphor wood because of its fragrance, resistance to insects, and naturally evocative shapes. Each spring, traditional and modern works created by these master craftspeople are showcased in the annual Sanyi wood carving festival.

要在台湾观赏到第一手的中国传统木雕首推宁静小城三义。这里的樟树林最初在1920年代吸引了木雕师的注意，而木工业随即成了三义的主要生计。樟木的香味、防蛀性、以及自然天成的形体，是木雕师珍爱的素材。每年春季，一年一度的三义木雕节都会展示由这些木雕大师所创作的传统及现代作品。

Vocabulary

单词发音

knock on wood 老天保佑; 好险喔  are used to express a desire to avoid "tempting fate" after making some boast or speaking of one's own death. 在美国的习惯里，敲木头代表祈求好运的意思，有些人在讲这句话的时候，还会用手敲敲头，真的是很有意思。总之在你讲一些你自认是很幸运的事情时，你就可以说knock on wood. 例如你说，我差一点就被一台车给撞到，真是好险，就是I almost got hit by a car. Knock on wood. 所以这个knock on wood 就有点像是中文里"好险" 的那个味道。

pottery [ˋpɑtərɪ] n. 陶器制造术

troupe [trup] n.（演员等的）一团；一班

spirituality [͵spɪrɪtʃʊˋælɪtɪ] n. 精神上的事情；灵性

aboriginal [͵æbəˋrɪdʒən!] adj.【正式】土著的; 土生的

carver [ˋkɑrvɚ] n. 雕刻者

artisan [ˋɑrtəzn] n. 工匠；技工

screen [skrin] n. 屏风;隔板

workmanship [ˋwɝkmən͵ʃɪp] n. 手艺，工艺

fixture [ˋfɪkstʃɚ] n.（房屋等的）固定装置，配件，设备

sculpture [ˋskʌlptʃɚ] n. 雕刻品，雕塑品；雕像

camphor [ˋkæmfɚ] n. 樟树,樟脑

grove [grov] n. 树丛，小树林

woodworking [ˋwʊd͵wɝkɪŋ] n. 木工艺

lifeblood [ˋlaɪf͵blʌd] n. 生机的根源；命脉

evocative [ɪˋvɑkətɪv] adj. 使想起〔某事〕的; 唤起记忆的

Sentence of the Day

They are shining examples of wood carving.

他们是木雕的绝佳典范。

shining [`ʃaɪnɪŋ] adj. 杰出的﹐ 出众的

课文讲解

In contrast to the Chinese tradition of wood carving, Taiwan’s unique aboriginal tradition of wood carving is skillfully demonstrated by the work of Orchid Island’s Yami people. The Yami traditionally relied ontatala – handmade wooden boats ornamented with red trim and tribal symbols – to catch flying fish. However, in the face of a decline in local fishing, the Yami began to produce fewer boats, particularly the huge 10-person tatala. Like aboriginal traditions around the world, the Yami traditions are threatened by a changing world.

相对于中国传统的木雕，兰屿雅美族的作品则展现台湾原住民木雕的技艺。自古以来雅美族就靠独木舟－饰以红色条线及部族象征的手工木造船－来捕飞鱼。然而，鉴于当地捕鱼业式微，雅美族造的船逐渐减少，尤其是可容纳十人的大型独木舟。就像全球的原住民传统命途多舛，目前变动的世界也让雅美族的传统岌岌可危。

To preserve Yami boatbuilding traditions, the Taidong County government recently commissioned each of Orchid Island’s four villages to construct a new ten-person tatala. The project has brought villagers, both young and old, together to locate the best wood, then carve and paint the boats as their ancestors did. In addition to constructing the boats, the entire building process – from selecting the woods to launching the boats – is being professionally filmed to carefully document and preserve Yami wood carving traditions.

为了保存雅美族的造船传统，台东县政府最近委托兰屿四个部落各造一艘新的十人座独木座。这项计划让全村从小到老合力搜寻最佳原木，然后效法祖先以雕刻绘画的方式造船。除了造船部分，整个制造的头尾流程－从选择原木到下水启航－皆由专业影像工作者拍摄下来，以仔细纪录并保存雅美族的木雕传统。

The works of the Sanyi and Yami carvers are living examples of Taiwan’s dual cultural heritage: both Chinese and aboriginal. By continuing the tradition of wood carving, these craftspeople ensure that future generations can enjoy the distinctive beauty of Taiwanese woodwork.

三义和雅美族的木雕作品是台湾承袭中国与原住民两种文化遗产的真实典范。借着延续木雕传统，这些师傅们让后代子孙都能领略台湾木雕的特殊之美。

－by Patrick M. O’Boyle

Vocabulary

单词发音

ornament [ˋɔrnəmənt] v. 装饰；美化[（+with）]

trim [trɪm] n.（门，窗等的）镶边饰

commission [kəˋmɪʃən] v. 委任，委托

locate [loˋket] v. 探出，找出

document [ˋdɑkjəmənt] v.〔通过记述﹑拍电影或拍照片的方式来〕记载

dual [ˋdjuəl] adj. 双重的

heritage [ˋhɛrətɪdʒ] n. 遗产

distinctive [dɪˋstɪŋktɪv] adj. 有特色的，特殊的

woodwork [ˋwʊd͵wɝk] n. 木工手艺; 木工活; （总称）木制品

Sentence of the Day

This art doesn't fade into the woodwork.

这项艺术不会在木制品中消逝。

fade [fed] v. 逐渐消失