绵延生长

绵延生长

The Lingnan area has a long coastline, with many islands. Since ancient times, people of Lingnan have started sailing. Thanks to their advanced navigation technology and shipbuilding skills, Lingnanese kept discovering and conquering the ocean, and from offshore fi shing to oceanic trading, they gradually broadened their space of living. Thus, Lingnanese form the adventurous spirits and the customs of revering the ocean.

The Red Ships At Zhanglin Port In Qing Dynasty,150×100cm,by Feng Shaoxie,2014《清代•漳林港的红头船》，150×100，冯少协，2014年

岭南海岸线漫长，岛屿众多，在远古时代，岭南人就有航海的习惯。

凭借领先的航海技术和造船技术，岭南人对海洋不断探索、征服，从近海捕捞到远洋贸易，一步步扩大着自己生存的天地。由此，岭南形成敢于冒险的性格，以及敬畏海洋的民俗。

Live by the Sea

The ancient Lingnanese were good at sailing, especially at shipbuilding.

Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, Lingnan shipbuilding developed into a very mature wooden sailing technology. Until the Tang and Song Dynasties, the ships were already equipped with the most advanced compass needles, spindles, watertight compartments, rudders and so on. Ships departed from Guangzhou, went through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean to countries along the Persian Gulf. The furthest could even reach the eastern African coast. In the Ming Dynasty,“Guang Ships”, which achieved a worldwide reputation, could hold more then 2000 persons and sustain stronger winds and waves. China, therefore, was able to be with Spain to create the brand new navigation history by developing a new transoceanic marine route from Guangzhou, by way of Manila, the Philippines, to Mexico in Latin America.

It's recorded that in the West Han Dynasty there was a phenomenon, “by Hepu and Xuwen counties south till the oceans, and then comes the vast state, which is Quadra kilometres' occupation of land”. The oldest Chinese marine Silk Road had then taken shape. According to the written history, the ambassador from the Roman Empire sailed directly to Guangzhou in the East Han Dynasty. Untill Tang and Song Dynasties, the longest route reached to coast of eastern Africa.

Living by the sea creates the adventurous spirits of the Lingnan people and forms the customs of revering the ocean. The life of fi shermen needs to be comforted to the catching seasons and the marine climates. So before sailing, they would like at fi rst to do “Sky Divination” and “Clouds Divination”. The fi rst launching of a ship or the sailing of a fi shing boat and the closing of fi shing nets needed a specially selected fortune hour and a lucky day. There are a lot of rituals in sailing, but most are for luck and good harvest. When chatting, making meals or grilling fi shes, for instance, people would say “shun“ (lucky), rather than “fan” (shipwreck). If fi shermen have fi sh on board, fi nishing the tail of a fi sh or breaking off the fi sh are both taboos, because they regard fi sh as their boats and the bottom of a boat is usually for controlling the rudder---breaking off represents the ominous shipwrecking. The head of a newly launched boat needs to point to the temple, and the boat can actually start off only after the fi recrackers. Then when good harvest comes, people will cook a sucking pig to worship the gods and give gratitude to them for their blessing.

The captain is the host on board, and everything on board should respect the wisdom of the captain. Others cannot say one more word. When having fi sh on board, in order to show respect, the head of the fi sh is left to the captain. These rules made by marine people make Lingnanese more team cohesive, more disciplined and honour the host with the highest authority.

历史上，岭南人擅长航海，尤擅造船。

早在秦汉时期，岭南的造船业已进入木帆船时代。到唐宋时期，船上更拥有当时世界上最先进的罗盘针、转轴、水密舱、锚等装置，船队可以从广州经南海、印度洋，到波斯湾沿岸各国，最远到达非洲东部海岸。由此，形成当时世界上最长的远洋航线。明代，“广舶”名扬天下，可容纳2000余人，抵御更大的风浪。航海技术的发展，让岭南人很早开始对外贸易。据记载，西汉时期，就有“自合浦徐闻南入海，得大州，东西南北方千里”，形成中国最古的一条海上丝绸之路航线。东汉时期，已有记载大秦国（罗马帝国）派遣使者直接航行到中国广州。

海洋带给岭南人财富和闯荡精神，也形成了敬畏海洋的民俗。渔民出海要“占天”“占云”，新船下海、渔船出海、合网都要择选吉日良辰。说话时忌说“翻”，吃鱼忌先吃鱼尾，更忌将鱼尾弄断。新船下海要将船头向着宫庙鸣放鞭炮后才能正式开船出海。捕鱼丰收了，也要烧头乳猪祭拜神灵，感谢神灵保佑。

舵公是船的主人，船上一切得服从舵公智慧，伙计们不能多嘴。在船上吃鱼，一般鱼头都要留给舵公，以示尊重。岭南人在海外闯荡时，团队意识强、次序森严，当家人有较高的权威，大约都跟这些海上生存形成的规则有关。

HUIZHOU 惠州

Huizhou has a 281.4Km coastline, with 140 isles and islands. The offshore of Daya Gulf is the provincial level natural conservation area for aquaculture.

Huidong Port has the national level natural conservation for sea turtles, and is also the only one in Asia. By the sea of Huizhou, the most typical spot is Xunliao Gulf.

惠州拥有大陆海岸线281.4公里，大小岛屿140个，大亚湾海域是省级水产资源自然繁殖保护区。惠东港口海龟自然保护区为国家级自然保护区，是亚洲大陆唯一的海龟自然保护区。惠州滨海景点代表当属巽寮湾。

YANGJIANG 阳江

The coastline of Yangjiang is 341.5km. The city has 30 main islands. Near

Yangjian the shipwreck of “Nanhai NO.1” was found, which bought fame to the region. The Museum of Marine Silk Road was then built here. In addition,

Yangjiang has profound Matsu rituals, customs of the Dan people and a fi shing culture. Dongling Island is the most notable visiting spot by the sea.

海岸线长341.5公里，主要岛屿有30个。阳江打捞到的“南海Ⅰ号”沉船，让阳江被誉为“海上敦煌”，更建成了全国最大的“海上丝绸之路博物馆”。此外，阳江还有丰富悠久的妈祖、疍家习俗和渔家文化。阳江滨海景点代表是东陵岛。

SHANTOU 汕头

Shantou has a sea and island coastline totalling 471.5 Km. The local people turn to seafood for sustenance. The Chaoshan cuisine has 7 types of famous courses and appetisers, more than 300 kinds, each of which is based on seafood. Shantou is also a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese. Many celebrities are from Shantou, such as Li Ka-shing. By the sea of Shantou, the most visited site is Nan'ao Island.

汕头市海岸线加岛岸线共471.5公里。居民日常以海鲜为食，潮汕名菜小食7大类、300多种，样样离不开海鲜。汕头也是著名的侨乡，很多当年通过海洋走出去的名人，例如李嘉诚。汕头滨海景点最具代表的当属南澳岛。

ZHANJIANG 湛江

Zhanjiang has the longest coastline in Guangdong Province. At 1556km long, it is also 1/10 of China's coastline. The ancestors there were afraid of wind and waves on the sea, so most of them worshiped the god of thunder and wished to have a dialog with him. Zhanjiang has abundant oceanic fi shery resources with more than 3000 types of fi sh which are famous for their big size, thick fl esh and great taste. The typical spot is Donghai Island.

湛江海岸线长达1556公里，约为全国的1/10，是全省之最。雷州半岛人们自古害怕海洋风浪，所以大都崇拜雷神。湛江海洋渔业资源丰富，鱼类多达3000多种，海鲜以肉厚个大鲜美闻名。湛江滨海景点代表是东海岛。

ZHUHAI 珠海

Zhuhai, so-called “the city of a hundred of islands”, has altogether 146 isles and islands with a 604 km long coastline. It is the key city of the port of the Pearl River, and is a new style garden city with a beautiful reputation of being the “romantic city”. Dong'ao Island is the representative sight spot of Zhuhai.

珠海海岸线长604公里，大小岛屿146个，有“百岛之市”的美誉。珠海为珠江口西岸的核心城市，新型花园城市，在中国有“浪漫之城”的称号。珠海滨海景点代表东澳岛。

LIVE BY THE SEA

Text by Lan Xiaojiang Translation by Bian Jiajin Photos by Quan Jing & Zeng Jian