极乐鸟在中国:由一幅清宫旧藏“边鸾”款花鸟画谈起

Birds of Paradise in China: A Discussion of the Chinese Painting Inscribed with the Name of Painter “Bian Luan” Originally Possessed by the Court of the Qing Dynasty

台北"故宫博物院"现藏一幅题名"边鸾"款的清宫旧藏花鸟画轴,图中描绘一只原产巴布亚新几内亚的极乐鸟,依据此幅画作绘画风格和印款可断定其制作于明代晚期,因此这幅画作将是极乐鸟图像出现在中国的早期证据。极乐鸟的形象较早的出现在中国绘画中说明了中国与太平洋诸国间频繁的贸易交流,尤其是其间的极乐鸟羽毛贸易在一定程度上影响到了西方人对极乐鸟的博物学认识。至19世纪随着中西方文化交流的加深,极乐鸟的形象出现在各类中国外销西方的工艺美术作品当中,通过广州贸易交流而来的域外鸟类形象,在中国风格的塑造下成功的联系起了全球化交流时期区域性知识、图像的传递和扩散。

A Chinese painting of birds and flowers inscribed with the name of painter "Bian Luan",which used to be possessed by the Court of Qing Dynasty,is now preserved in the "Palace Museum" in Taipei.The painting shows the image of birds of paradise which originally inhabit Papua New Guinea.According to the painting style and inscription,this painting was obviously produced in the late Ming Dynasty.Therefore,the painting is likely to be the earliest of its kind to feature the birds of paradise in China.The appearance of birds of paradise in Chinese painting around this time hints at a flourishing trade between China and the Pacific region.Moreover,feather trade of birds of paradise has largely influenced the way Westerners thought of the natural history of the bird.With further cultural exchanges between China and the West in the 19th century,the image of birds of paradise started to appear in various kinds of Chinese artworks intended for export.This exotic bird,introduced to China via trade between Canton and abroad,had its image created in Chinese style and thus helped spread regional knowledge and the image of China successfully in an era of globalization.