东印度公司与欧洲的瓷塔镜像

The East India Company and the Mirror Images of the Porcelain Pagodas in Europe

在"东塔西传"的历史进程中,东印度公司承担了重要的桥梁作用,不仅确证了由耶稣会士肇始的瓷塔传说,而且造就了钱伯斯对瓷塔最成功的仿造。欧洲瓷塔镜像的生成、流播及式微,一方面展现了中国建筑文化对西方的影响,同时彰显出矗立于异质文化土壤上的塔文本间的互文性,从而说明人类文化的相互流通及影响是必然、恒久且充满冲突与误读的;另一方面,从熠熠生辉到破败倒塌,瓷塔镜像事实上也折射出17至19世纪三百年里欧洲的中国想象及自我身份确认的嬗变。

The East India Company played an important role and functioned as a bridge during the historical process of introducing the Eastern porcelain pagodas to the west. It not only confirmed the legends of the porcelain pagodas initiated by the Jesuits, but also underlay William Chambers’ most successful imitation of the porcelain pagodas of Nanking. On one hand, the formation, spread, and decline of the mirror images of the porcelain pagodas in Europe show the influence of Chinese architecture on the West and the intertextuality between pagodas in different places, therefore demonstrating the fact that the mutual spread and influence of different cultures are inevitable and enduring despite the conflicts and misunderstandings. On the other hand, from glowing to decaying, the mirror image of the porcelain pagodas reflects the Europeans’ imagination of China as well as confirmation of self-identification between the 17 th and 19 th centuries.