自然之上

北海工艺的扬名，既得益于丰富优质的天然资源，更得益于当地人对资源充满敬畏与想象力的开发运用。

SOUTH PEARL

南珠：磨砺之美

FUTHER THAN NATURE

Such reputations are not only built on fine quality of the natural materials, but more importantly on the creative minds and innovative techniques the local artists carefully apply in respect of nature.

Text by Ge Rufeng&Brooke Yan Translations by Tao Wenjia&Yi Shan& Bianjiajin Photos by Zeng Jian & Yang Zaizi

NIHAO: What is the historical connection between the South Pearl and the Beihai?

Wang: China may be the first country to find and use pearls in the world, and Chinese pearls originated from Hepu in Beihai. The Hepu Port was also one of the earliest ports that was part of the ancient "Marine Silk Road". Pearls as a trading product of this silk road were sold to Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa. The Beihai was once the trade centre of world's pearls.

NIHAO: what kind of environmental aspects contribute to the uniqueness of Beihai South Pearls?

Wang: The South Peal oysters belong to the Pinctada martensii. Beihai has a subtropical climate. Meanwhile, the Beibu Gulf waves are relatively small and the salinity of sea water is perfect for oysters. These natural conditions are very suitable for the growth of Pinctada martensii. In addition, I have to praise the bravery and smartness of the locals. The ancient pearling process was very dangerous. The locals almost exchanged their lives for pearls. They would go out with only a rope on their backs, and no other security measures to dive into the sea, facing the threats of drowning, typhoons and sharks at any time. Thanks to them, the pearl industry developed fast there.

Wang Shiquan ,the inheritor of South Pearl culture王世全 南珠文化传承人

NIHAO ：南珠与北海有着怎样的渊源？

王世全：中国可能是世界上发现、利用珍珠最早的国家，而中国珍珠发源地又在北海合浦。秦朝时，南珠就已经是贡品。合浦港是海上丝绸之路最早的始发港之一，珍珠作为海丝通商货物从合浦港远销东南亚、南亚、非洲等国家。北海在当时可以说是世界珍珠贸易的中心。

NIHAO ：什么样的条件成就了北海南珠？

王世全：北海属于亚热带气候，北部湾风浪小，海水的盐度适中，这一系列自然条件适宜马氏珠母贝的生长。另外，古代采珠非常危险，采珠人背上拴条绳就潜入海底，随时面临窒息、鲨鱼、台风的威胁。北海的原住居民聪明与勇敢，水性非常好，采珠业得以迅速在当地发展起来。

NIHAO ：南珠为北海带来了什么样的文化？

王世全：就像南珠的形成，有包容，有磨砺，这是珍珠的精神，也是北海的精神。

SHELL CARVING PICTURE

贝雕：海底的财富

NIHAO: What kind of role do the shell carving pictures play in Beihai people's life?

Lin Xiong: Located beside Beibu Gulf, Beihai has a rich supply of maritime resources. The seashells you can find there have incredible colours. In their early history, Beihai people threaded the shells together as decoration, which was considered to give protection from evil spirits. The shells also served as the currency widely used along the ancient maritime Silk Road in countries including Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Later during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beihai people started to turn the shells into birds and flowers, and imbed them in their furniture. Besides that they later invented a kind of picture made of shells which symboliseed good luck and fortune. The pictures at that time were often used as gifts for weddings and moving into a new house.

NIHAO: Can you introduce to our readers the practice of carving shells?

Lin Xiong: After cutting and burnishing, the artists will stick the processed shells and sea conches onto the surface. It is an art form which uses the cubist vision and the aesthetic sense of Chinese painting that emphasises emptiness. The magic part is that all the colours on the picture are the natural colours of the shells and conches. Therefore the abundance of shells and conches are important for creating this kind of art. Hence, many people take them as gifts for foreign friends and important guests.

NIHAO ：贝壳在北海扮演着什么角色？

林雄：北海地处北部湾畔，海洋资源丰富，出产的贝壳种类繁多，五颜六色。贝壳还曾经作为货币在社会上流通，在海上丝绸之路与越南、老挝、泰国的贸易往来也有使用。明清时期，北海当地人将贝壳加工成各种花鸟式样，将其镶嵌在家具中做装饰。后来当地人又把贝壳做成贝雕画，乔迁新居、迎新嫁娶都少不了一幅象征吉祥富贵的贝雕画。……