你認(rèn)識(shí)這種杯子嗎？

I discovered something in Beijing recently that truly is, as the expression goes, my cup of tea.

我最近在北京發(fā)現(xiàn)了心愛(ài)之物。
Much as in romance, it was the sheer beauty of what I beheld that first caught my attention. But it was the integrity of, and story behind, the objects of my obsession — jian zhan teacups — that eventually won me over.

我第一眼就因外形愛(ài)上了建盞，但它背后的故事才是真正打動(dòng)了我。
Interestingly enough, many of my Chinese friends mistakenly believe these teacups, also called tea pots for their sturdy construction, are of Japanese origin.
有趣的是，我的很多中國(guó)朋友都以為建盞來(lái)源于日本。

But this clay tea ware that I've grown so fond of has a long tradition in China, with roots reaching back to Fujian province in the Song Dynasty (420-479).

其實(shí)建盞可以追溯到宋朝時(shí)期的福建。
The beauty of the cups comes from the iron-rich clay and glaze used in making them, as well as the glorious transformation that occurs in the superheated, fire-belching traditional kilns. The result is an astounding array of spectacular glaze colors and patterns.

因?yàn)樘胀粮缓F質(zhì)，因此建盞有獨(dú)特的光澤和顏色。
The appreciation of jian zhan increases as one gains a better understanding of how a certain magic determines the magnificence, and hence the asking price, of these unique teacups.

隨著一個(gè)人對(duì)建盞了解的深入，他就會(huì)更加欣賞它的卓越之處。
In the West, the word teacup often calls to mind dainty porcelain pieces meant for genteel sipping. Jian zhan, however, are weighty in the hand and solidly constructed, and tea sophisticates swear by them.

在西方，茶杯都很輕巧，但是建盞很沉，對(duì)茶葉也有加持。
According to the website of Crimson Lotus Tea, "When we're analyzing teas for purchase we can't use these cups. They make everything taste better."

網(wǎng)上說(shuō)，建盞會(huì)讓茶葉味道更香，會(huì)混淆茶葉的真實(shí)價(jià)值。
The website Verdant Tea says jian zhan absorb tea oils over time and tend to "smooth out teas, bringing out their sweetness while evening out texture".

另一個(gè)網(wǎng)站寫(xiě)到，建盞會(huì)吸收茶油，帶出茶葉的香甜味。
Some fans, including myself, buy a single special cup that comes with a fancy wooden or leather carrying case. 

包括我在內(nèi)的一些建盞粉絲都會(huì)買(mǎi)一個(gè)建盞。
My favorite jian zhan, purchased recently for a mere 650 yuan ($93), is a gorgeous blue whose sheen on the inside rim reminds me of a favorite Bianchi bicycle from years back, which had light blue, metal-flake paint that virtually glowed in sunlight.

我最喜歡的建盞價(jià)值650元，它的藍(lán)色讓我想起多年前最?lèi)?ài)的比安奇自行車(chē)。那輛車(chē)的金屬藍(lán)色在陽(yáng)光會(huì)熠熠發(fā)光。
The process by which jian zhan take shape begins with the earth underfoot, or more precisely the clay. And not just any clay, but a very special type specific to Fujian.

燒制建盞的陶土非常特殊，只有福建有。
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory says this about the teacups' composition: "New analysis of ancient Jian wares reveals the distinctive pottery contains an unexpected and highly unusual form of iron oxide.

 美國(guó)勞倫斯伯克利國(guó)家實(shí)驗(yàn)室表示，新的研究結(jié)果表明，建盞還有大量少見(jiàn)的氧化鐵元素。
This rare compound, called epsilon-phase iron oxide, was only recently discovered and characterized by scientists and so far has been extremely difficult to create with modern techniques."

科學(xué)家最近才發(fā)現(xiàn)了這種稀有的ε相氧化鐵?，F(xiàn)代科技非常難以合成這種元素。
The lab says the findings by an international team of researchers "could lead to an easier, more reliable synthesis of epsilon-phase iron oxide, enabling better, cheaper magnetic materials including those used for data storage".

實(shí)驗(yàn)室表示，這一發(fā)現(xiàn)會(huì)讓合成ε相氧化鐵工作變得更加簡(jiǎn)易可靠，從而打造更好更低價(jià)的磁材。
The Berkeley Lab summarizes the jian zhan production process thusly: "To make the pottery, ancient artisans used local iron-rich clay coated with a mixture of clay, limestone, and wooden ash.

實(shí)驗(yàn)室總結(jié)道，古人利用本地富含鐵元素的陶土，添加混合土、石灰和木屑的外層來(lái)制作建盞。

Kiln temperatures of 1,300 C (nearly 2,400 Fahrenheit) hardened the clay, melted the coating, and bubbled oxygen within the glaze, pushing iron ions to the surface. 

1300度的高溫堅(jiān)固了陶土，將鐵元素分離至表層。
As the glaze cooled, molten iron flux flowed down the sides of the ceramics and crystallized into iron oxides imparting characteristic patterns."

溫度下降后，氧化鐵到表面，行程紋路。
And there you have it. But neither the lab nor any amount of science can explain why this ancient form of teacup is so endearing. 

不過(guò)實(shí)驗(yàn)室和科學(xué)都無(wú)法解釋建盞為何如此討喜。
Maybe it's the dense, earthy feel that helps ground our thoughts and emotions as we drink tea. 

也許這種接地氣的感覺(jué)讓我們?cè)诤炔钑r(shí)能平心靜氣。
Perhaps it's the way the teacups dazzle the eye (some feature real leaves of golden autumn hues embedded beneath the glaze). Or maybe they appeal to our longing for simpler, traditional ways.

也許這就是建盞耀眼的原因，或者它們符合了我們對(duì)簡(jiǎn)單傳統(tǒng)的追求。
But whatever the reason, whenever I encounter these glorious reminders of long-ago China, I quickly succumb to their iron-flux magic.

無(wú)論原因如何，每當(dāng)我看到建盞，都會(huì)屈服于它的神奇。