简论“玳瑁”的文化意蕴

On the Cultural Implications of “Hawksbill Turtle”

玳瑁是一种珍稀海洋动物。玳瑁最早以其独特的解毒药效被人们所重视,更因其甲壳独特的装饰性而为大众所钟爱。玳瑁属于稀缺资源,由海地、海国进贡或贸易而来,故身价颇高,流行于上层社会和富豪人家。由此,玳瑁成为了一个与海洋、富贵、权势等相关的文化符号。另外,作为龟属动物,玳瑁还附着上了长寿的文化内涵;由于玳瑁单独行动的生活习性,它还被赋予了孤独之含义。

The hawksbill turtle is a kind of rare marine animal. It first got people＇ s attention for its unique detoxification efficacy, and later became popular with people because of its unique decorative shells. Hawksbill shells were scarce resources in China. They came to China from the coastal regions and countries by way of tribute and trade, so their price was quite high, and they were popular only with the upper class and rich people. Since then, hawksbill turtles have become a cultural symbol associated with ocean, wealth, power, and so on. In addition, as they are of turtle genus, they are given the cultural connotation of longevity, and because they tend to act alone, they are also endowed with the meaning of loneliness.