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The Intricate Art of Liuli 精工细琢琉璃美

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课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Once close to dying out for good, the ancient art of liuli has, in recent years, been given a new lease on life. Liuli is Chinese glass artwork, a craft that has been around since the 11th century BC. Creating these beautiful glass ornaments, tableware, and jewelry is an incredibly complicated and time-consuming process, demanding great technical skill and patience. However, the results are delicate, elegant crystal works, each one impossible to replicate and each one unique.

琉璃是种古老的艺术。这种艺术曾几近失传，却在这几年被注入了新的生命。琉璃是源于公元前11世纪的中国玻璃工艺。创作这些美丽玻璃装饰、玻璃餐具与玻璃珠宝是一段极为复杂与耗时的过程，需要极佳的技巧与耐心。然而，所呈现的成品是精细与雅致的水晶工艺。每一件琉璃作品都是与众不同、难以仿制的。

Liuli stands out because of its many bright colors. Conventional glass artwork can usually only be fired in a single color, but the glass casting technique used to create liuli allows many colors to be incorporated into any one piece. The technique employed by liuli artisans is referring to as “pâte de verre,” or lost-wax casting, in which a glass powder is mixed with colorants and fired at exceptionally high temperatures. Because each mold can only be used once and the colors can vary so much, every individual liuli craftwork is truly one of a kind.

琉璃独特之处在于它呈现出的多种色彩。传统的玻璃工艺通常只能烧出一种颜色，但是制作琉璃的铸造技术能在一件作品展现出多种颜色。琉璃艺术家所用的技术名为 「pate-de-verre」，或称「脱腊铸造技法」。运用此种技术时，参杂着色剂的玻璃粉末会在高温下以大火铸烧。因每个蜡模只能使用一次，且每次产生的色泽都极不相同，因此每件作品都是独一无二的。

Pale green liuli beads date back to the Western Zhou Dynasty, and liuli handicrafts flourished during the Tang Dynasty, when the word liuli became popular. By the 19th century, this glass casting technique was no longer practiced. It wasn’t until 1968, when the earliest example of "pâte de verre" was discovered in China, that archaeologists realized that liuli was an artform founded in China. The discovery drove local artists to revive the tradition, so that people everywhere may once again appreciate the allure of these captivating works.

淡绿颜色的琉璃珠可回溯至西周；琉璃技术兴盛于唐朝，而「琉璃」一词则在唐代变得流行。玻璃铸造技术到了19世纪便不再盛行。直到1968年，当考古学家在中国发现最早应用「脱腊铸造技法」的例子时，他们才了解琉璃是一项源于中国的艺术型态。这项发现促使中国艺术家复兴这项传统，使世界各地的人们都能再一次欣赏琉璃动人之美。

Vocabulary

单词发音

liuli: n. 琉璃

ornament [ˋɔrnəmənt] n. 装饰品

tableware [ˋteb!͵wɛr] n.（总称）餐具

time-consuming [ˋtaɪmkən͵sjumɪŋ] adj. 费时的；旷日持久的

delicate [ˋdɛləkət] adj. 精美的; 易碎的；娇贵的

casting  [ˋkæstɪŋ] n. 铸造

incorporate [ɪnˋkɔrpə͵ret] v. 包含；加上；吸收[（+in/into）]

artisan [ˋɑrtəzn] n. 工匠；技工

pâte de verre:  脱蜡铸造技法

colorant [ˋkʌlərənt] n. 着色剂

exceptionally [ɪkˋsɛpʃənəlɪ] adv. 非常地

vary [ˋvɛrɪ] v. 使多样化

handicraft [ˋhændɪ͵kræft] n. 手工艺

flourish [ˋflɝɪʃ] v. 繁荣，兴旺

archaeologist  [͵ɑrkɪˋɑlədʒɪst] n.考古学家

artform n.  艺术形式

revive [rɪˋvaɪv] v. 复苏；恢复；复兴

allure [əˋlɪʊr] n. 诱惑力，魅力

captivating [ˋkæptə͵vetɪŋ] adj. 极为迷人的

Idiom

成语发音

die out 灭绝, 绝迹 to cease living completely; become extinct

for good 永远, 永久 permanently; forever

a new lease on life 活得更带劲; 大病初愈  an opportunity to improve one's circumstances or outlook; a chance to improve one's situation or to live longer or more happily

stand out 突出, 显著 to be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent

one of a kind 独一无二的  the only item of a particular type

课文朗读

课文讲解

No one has done more to reinstate liuli than Loretta Hui-shan Yang and Chang Yi. In 1987, they established a small company named liuligongfang and opened a workshop in Tamshui, the first glass art studio in Taiwan or China in modern times. Without any experience at all, Yang was determined to ensure that this Chinese tradition would not be lost forever.

在使琉璃艺术重生的努力上，没有人比杨惠姗与张毅下了更多苦工。杨惠姗与张毅于1987年在淡水成立一间小型工作室，并将之命名为「琉璃工房」。它是近代台湾与中国的第一间琉璃工作室。杨惠姗没有任何制作琉璃的经验，但她下定决心确保不让这项中国传统失传。

After massive investment and much trial and error, Liuligongfang finally found its feet, and Yang and Chang built up a reputation as the founders of contemporary Chinese glass art. There are now almost 70 Liuligongfang galleries. Yang and Chang’s artworks have been exhibited around the world, and some pieces form part of internationally renowned museums’ permanent collections.

经过了巨额投资与不断尝试后，琉璃工房终能站稳脚步，而杨惠姗与张毅也成为当代中国玻璃艺术的创始者。现今，将近有70多间琉璃工房艺廊。杨惠姗与张毅的作品在世界各地展出，一些作品甚至成为国际知名美术馆的永久收藏。

Liuligongfang’s founders demonstrate a remarkable degree of commitment and passion. For them, each work is as important as the last. Every individual piece is crafted with love and care, following a twelve-step process which takes up to eight weeks or more to complete. Each artifact should capture the history of liuli. At the same time, Liuligongfang strives to give a modern twist to this ancient art.

琉璃工房的创立者展现出极大的奉献精神与热诚。他们把每项作品都看成最后一件作品去创作，并于雕琢过程也投以人文情怀。每件作品需遵循12道工序、花费八个礼拜或是更多的时间方能完成。每件作品都抓住琉璃的历史韵味，但同时，琉璃工房也努力为这项古代艺术注入时尚风格。

A great example of this is Liuligongfang’s LIULI LIVING– contemporary furnishings that bring these attractive glass designs into our day-to-day lives. Shanghai’s TMSK (Tou Ming Si Kao) restaurant has also brought liuli into the realm of interior design. TMSK is a liuli-themed restaurant, decorated with the colored glass, and a superb example of Liuligongfang’s craftsmanship. The company’s works are a shining example of refinement, and the proprietors epitomize a devotion to their art.

琉璃工房旗下的生活品牌LIULI LIVING是最好的例子。LIULI LIVING将迷人的玻璃艺术融入我们现代日常生活的家具设计。上海的TMSK（Tou Ming Si Kao，透明思考）餐厅也将琉璃带入室内设计领域。TMSK餐厅以琉璃为主题，佐以彩绘玻璃与琉璃工房的高雅工艺。琉璃工房的作品是精致工艺的最好例子，而成立琉璃工房的杨惠姗与张毅则是为艺术奉献的最加典范。

－by Alice Davis

Vocabulary

单词发音

reinstate [͵riɪnˋstet] v. 使复原；使恢复

twist [twɪst] n. 转折; 转变; v. 扭曲

realm [rɛlm] n. 领域；范围

craftsmanship [ˋkræftsmən͵ʃɪp] n. 技巧；技术

refinement [rɪˋfaɪnmənt] n. 精细，精制

proprietor [prəˋpraɪətɚ] n. 所有人；业主，经营者

epitomize [ɪˋpɪtə͵maɪz] v. 代表，象征；体现

Idiom

find one’s feet 能够站稳(或走稳);  适应环境  to become used to a new situation or experience

Reading Questions

1.    What happened when the earliest example of “Pâte de verre” was discovered in 1968?

(A)  Many tourists began to visit China to see these works.

(B)  Most artists showed little interest in the art form.

(C)  Many artists in China began to create liuli works.

(D)  The price of liuli works quickly began to drop.

2.    Which of the following statements about liuli is NOT true?

(A)  It is extremely difficult to do and can take a lot of time.

(B)  Once the technique is mastered, it is easy to copy other liuli works.

(C)  It almost disappeared because people stopped practicing the art form.

(D)  Liuli artists often use many different colors to liven up their works.

3.    How can we best describe the history of Liuligongfang?

(A)  It immediately became successful when it was founded in 1987.

(B)  It was opened by experienced craftsmen.

(C)  The company did well at first, but it had troubles later on.

(D)  The company was shaky at first, but then it found its feet.

4.    According to the article, what are the founders of Liuligongfang trying to achieve with their work?

(A)  They aim to blend the past of liuli with current ideas.

(B)  They hope to make liuli works more affordable for common people.

(C)  They want to simplify the process of liuli so it can be produced faster.

(D)  They want liuli artists to try and replicate works from the Zhou Dynasty.

liven up: make lively

Tou Ming Si Kao (TMSK) in Shanghai, China - Exquisite design

Lost Wax Casting Process

【琉璃工房】失傳千年的脫蠟鑄造法

Artist Loretta Hui Shan Yang

LIULI LIVING —在生活裡，引進東方美學

Answer