中国植柳史与柳文化

The History of Planting Willow and Willow Culture in China

中国古代有着悠久的植柳历史。历史文献和考古资料证实中国植柳起源于夏商时期,周代以后得到了很大发展,并保持着长盛不衰的历史景象。古代中国人植柳主要是植柳护堤(护堤树)、植柳护路(行道树)、植柳美园(园林造景树)。中国人在长期的植柳历史中,形成了一种独特的柳文化,主要体现在:①柳崇拜:视柳树为女性生殖器崇拜的象征、吉祥和神的象征而祭拜;②柳民俗:存在着插柳戴柳习俗、折柳赠别和折柳寄远习俗、射柳及柳舞习俗;③柳诗文:柳树被历代文学家赋予表达“离情别意”的符号象征而极力讴歌;④柳绘画:视柳树为美与善的象征而成为山水画作中的主要表现景物。

China has a long history of planting willow. According to historical documents and archaeological data, planting willow in China originated from Xia and Shang dynasties. Since Zhou Dynasty, planting willow in China have had a rapid development and kept a prosperous scene for a long time. The ancient Chinese planted willow mainly to protect the embankments （embankment tree）, to protect the roads （trees that line a street）, to beautify the gardens （landscape gardening tree）. In the course of planting willow, the Chinese have developed their own willow culture as follows： ① The willow worship： People often take the willow as the symbol of Deity, good luck or female reproductive organs. ② The willow folklore： This includes planting or wearing the willow branches, taking the willow branches as the present of separation between friends, shooting willow etc.③ The willow poems： Willow has been highly praised because it was considered as the symbol of leave-taking by scholars in different times. ④ The willow paintings ： Being the symbol of beauty and goodwill, it is also an important part of scenery in landscape paintings.