為什麼紫砂壺這麼貴 | 為什麼這麼貴：英語精讀講義

Zisha teapots are made by artisans like Boqin Tang.

紫砂壺是由像 Boqin Tang 這樣的工藝師手工製作而成。

She had to study for 25 years to be considered a senior teapot maker,

她必須鑽研25年，才能被認定為高級製壺師，

which lets her sell a teapot like this for $20,000 to $30,000. 文法

有了這項資格，她才能以2萬至3萬美元的價格賣出這樣一把茶壺。

Anyway,

總之，

you have to just go through the process like this. 片語動詞

你就是得像這樣走完整個流程。

You have to show me your skills.

你得讓我看到你的技術。

You have to work hard to do this.

你必須努力才能做到。

It's true, right?

這是真的，對吧？

Yeah.

對。

But before Tang ever touches the clay,

但在 Tang 真正碰觸黏土之前，

the process starts with a unique raw material that's disappearing.

製作流程得先從一種正逐漸消失的獨特原料開始。

So what does it take to make a Zisha teapot? 文法

那麼，製作一把紫砂壺究竟需要什麼？

And why are they so expensive?

它們又為什麼這麼昂貴？

Zisha teapots were one of the first teapots ever made, 文法

紫砂壺是史上最早問世的茶壺之一，

dating back to 10th-century China. 片語動詞

歷史可追溯至10世紀的中國。

They're named after the rare clay that is made from 片語動詞

它們得名於一種稀有黏土，這種黏土是由

350-million-year-old Zisha ore.

形成於3.5億年前的紫砂礦石製成。

The ore can only be found in Dingshuzhen, 文法

這種礦石只能在丁蜀鎮找到，

primarily in Huanglong Mountain.

主要集中在黃龍山。

It's near the city of Yixing,

那裡鄰近宜興市，

which is known as China's ceramics capital. 用詞

宜興素有「中國陶都」之稱。

Zisha teapot experts have been using the same process for over 600 years. 文法

600多年來，紫砂壺專家始終沿用同一套製法。

The ore is powdered, 文法

礦石會先被磨成粉末，

then folded,

接著反覆折疊，

and worked in a way to create small pockets that promote airflow

再以特殊方式揉製，形成能促進空氣流通的微小孔隙，

in two directions throughout the pot.

讓空氣能在整個壺體中雙向流動。

This is known as dual porosity. 用詞

這稱為「雙重孔隙結構」。

And Zisha teapot makers and customers say this oxygen flow can intensify the flavor of tea, 片語搭配

紫砂壺製作者和顧客都表示，這樣的氧氣流通能讓茶的風味更加濃郁，

just like with a finely aerated wine. 表達脈絡

就像讓好酒充分接觸空氣一樣。

It's one of a few of Zisha's special properties believed to enhance the taste of the tea. 文法

這是紫砂為數不多、據信能提升茶湯風味的特殊性質之一。

Scientific analysis shows that the mineral composition of Zisha 表達脈絡

科學分析顯示，紫砂的礦物成分

allows the temperatures to fluctuate less when these pots are put to heat. 文法

能讓這些壺受熱時的溫度波動較小。

Fewer fluctuations means the flavor of the tea is more likely to be preserved. 文法

溫度波動越小，茶的風味就越容易保留下來。

Making Zisha teapots is a painstaking process. 用詞

製作紫砂壺是一項極為繁複費工的過程。

Each step is done by hand.

每一道工序都由手工完成。

Artists first smash the prepared Zisha clay into very thin layers with a wooden mallet.

工藝師先用木槌，將備好的紫砂泥捶打成非常薄的泥片。

It can take a year to learn how to do this correctly. 文法

光是學會正確做法，可能就要花上一年。

For a round teapot,

製作圓形茶壺時，

the largest slice is formed into a tube on a revolving round plate.

要在旋轉的圓盤上，將最大的一片泥片圍成筒狀。

Boqin will then pat the body using a thin wooden tool,

接著，Boqin 會用薄木製工具拍打壺身，

beating the clay into the desired shape. 片語搭配

把黏土拍打成想要的形狀。

For more intricate teapots,

至於造型更繁複的茶壺，

makers scratch patterns onto the hardened clay and attach extra decor,

製作者會在已硬化的黏土上刻出紋樣，再加上額外裝飾，

all of which can increase the final value. 文法

這些都有可能提高成品的最終價值。

Zisha teapots are typically small and hold just a cup of water, 用詞

紫砂壺通常很小，容量只有一杯水左右，

so they don't require much clay.

因此不需要用到太多黏土。

But getting that little bit of clay isn't simple or affordable.

但要取得這麼一點黏土，既不容易，也不便宜。

The limited supply of Zisha ore 片語搭配

紫砂礦石的供應有限，

boosts the cost of the raw material.

因而推高了原料成本。

To protect the resource,

為了保護這項資源，

China's government has banned mining in Huanglong. 文法

中國政府已禁止在黃龍山採礦。

In 2005,

2005年，

Yixing Huanglong Mountain was closed,

宜興黃龍山礦區遭到關閉，

and raw ore of Zisha clay has grown by

紫砂原礦的價格也已上漲了

hundreds of times.

數百倍。

And every year,

而且每一年，

it's still going up because raw ore is a non-renewable resource.

價格仍在持續上漲，因為原礦是無法再生的資源。

Boqin uses clay her family has reserved since the '90s.

Boqin 使用的是家族從1990年代便留存至今的黏土。

That's also the decade that she officially began making these teapots.

她也正是在那個年代正式開始製作這些茶壺。

To achieve her senior title,

為了取得高級職稱，

Boqin needed 25 years of experience,

Boqin 必須累積25年經驗，

at least five gold awards for her creations,

她的作品至少要獲得五項金獎，

and to pass a rigorous test.

並通過嚴格的考核。

This teapot is one of the pots

這把壺是我製作的其中一把，

I made when I was

當時我正在

trying to get my senior artisan title,

爭取高級工藝師的職稱，

or something like that. 語氣意圖

大概就是這樣。

I went home that night and she was there checking my work.

那天晚上我回到家，她就在那裡檢查我的作品。

Every step of the way, 慣用語

整個過程中的每一步，

she was there checking my work.

她都在旁邊檢查我的作品。

She was taking pictures of every step.

她把每一個步驟都拍了下來。

I worked for three days

我花了三天

doing this work.

製作這件作品。

This work was very hard.

這項工作非常辛苦。

The next level for Boqin to achieve,

Boqin 接下來要爭取的級別，

which is also the highest,

同時也是最高級別，

is the title of master craftsman. 文化背景

就是工藝大師的頭銜。

This requires at least 30 years of experience.

這至少需要30年經驗。

Why?

為什麼？

Because customers aren't paying for just the finite raw material, 文法

因為顧客付錢買的，不只是數量有限的原料，

but also for a high level of artistry.

更是高超的藝術造詣。

It's just that this artisan has a market reputation

也就是說，這位工藝師在市場上有一定聲望，

and market reputation

而市場聲望

that also affects the value of the Zisha teapot.

也會影響紫砂壺的價值。

It's just that it may seem like it's just a craft from a craft perspective, 講解

從工藝角度來看，它或許看起來只是一件工藝品，

but the value of the clay already exists.

但泥料本身就已經具有價值。

And the second thing is that if it can be considered art,

第二點是，如果它能被視為藝術品，

the value of the clay will be higher.

泥料的價值就會更高。

The value of this teapot will be higher.

這把茶壺的價值也會更高。

So that's why Zisha teapots

所以，這就是紫砂壺之所以……

For tea enthusiasts,

對愛茶人士而言，

buying a senior or master's Zisha teapot is like buying functional art. 用詞

購買高級工藝師或大師製作的紫砂壺，就像是在購買實用藝術品。

Functional in that it's made for a great tea-drinking experience. 片語搭配

說它實用，是因為它能帶來絕佳的品茶體驗。

And like art,

說它是藝術品，

because drinkers appreciate the delicate work and skill required to make it.

是因為品茶者欣賞它細膩的工藝，以及製作時所需的技巧。

It's just that making teapots

其實製作茶壺，

is mainly about the charm.

最重要的是神韻。

Your charm has to be there.

一定要做出那股神韻。

You have to work hard to do this.

你必須努力才能做到。

You have to be very strict with yourself and with the work. 片語搭配

你必須對自己和作品都非常嚴格。

You have to take every single step seriously. 片語搭配

每一個步驟都必須認真對待。

You have to make every single teapot perfectly.

每一把茶壺都必須做到盡善盡美。

Your body has to be

壺身必須……

You are round

如果壺身是圓的，

or you are

或者是……

you can just look at your mouth.

光看壺口就能判斷。

You can't have a pot that's this big 文法

壺身不能這麼大，

and a mouth that's this small.

壺口卻這麼小。

Or this handle

還有這個壺把，

This handle has to be a certain way.

壺把也必須符合特定要求。

A telltale sign of just how well a teapot is crafted 片語搭配

要判斷一把茶壺的工藝有多精良，一個明顯指標

is how liquid pours from the neck.

就是茶水從壺嘴倒出時的狀態。

The tea should pour out splatter-free from a well-made Zisha teapot. 用詞

製作精良的紫砂壺倒茶時，茶水應該順暢流出，不會飛濺。

In the end,

說到底，

it's the importance tea-making and tea-drinking have in China 文法

正是因為泡茶與飲茶在中國如此重要，

that makes such expensive teapots worth what customers pay. 文法

才讓這些昂貴茶壺對顧客而言物有所值。

So for example,

舉例來說，

I saw and liked this piece of art.

我看到這件藝術品，而且很喜歡。

I buy it and take it home.

我把它買下來，帶回家。

That's the connection between me and it.

這就是我和它之間的連結。

Chinese people call it "yuanfen." 文化背景

中國人稱之為「緣分」。

It's a special connection.

那是一種特殊的連結。