《熬波图》煮盐盘铁的考古学探索

An Archaeological Exploration into Plate Iron for Boiling Brine Based on the Book Aobo Tu

盘铁是一种由多件组块拼合而成的专用于沿海地区煮盐的大型铁器。文章以考古出土的盘铁遗存为基础,并结合《熬波图》等相关文献记载,对宋、元、明、清时期以盘铁煮盐的相关问题做了初步研究,主要得出如下结论:盘铁可分为圆形和矩形两类,圆形盘铁又分为大、中、小三种规格,每块都硕大厚重;盘铁的铸造多采用官督商办方式,采购原料和铸造过程都由官府严格控制,以防私铸私煮;使用盘铁煮盐的大型圆形盐灶直径约有3.3米,需要多人合力排凑盘铁并共同煮盐,从而起到相互监督、“聚团共煎”之功效。盘铁的设计、铸造和使用是宋、元、明、清王朝实行盐铁官营制度的重要体现。

The plate iron is a kind of large iron ware specially used for salt production in coastal areas.Based on the remains of plate iron unearthed from archaeology sites, combined with Aobo tu(the existing ancient Chinese specialized book on the complete summary of the whole process of sea salt production, by Chenchun in Yuan Dynasty) and other relevant documents, this paper makes a primary study on the related issues of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties and argues that: There are round and rectangular types plate iron. Round ones are divided into large, medium and small specifications, each piece is huge and heavy.The casting of iron plates adopts the way of putting private business under the official supervision, which means the procurement of raw materials and the casting process are strictly controlled by the government to prevent private casting and salt production.The diameter of a large round salt stove is about 3 meters,requiring several people to arrange the iron and boil salt together, so as to supervise each other and “get together and produce salt together”.The design, casting and use of plate iron is an important embodiment of the official management system of salt and iron in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.