纪录片《大英博物馆世界简史》 050传丝公主画版（1）

050：EPISODE 50 - Silk Princess Painting 传丝公主画版

Silk princess painting (made eighth century AD), from Chinese central Asia

Once upon a time, in the high and far off days of long ago, there was a beautiful princess who lived in the land of silk. One day her father, the emperor, told her she must marry the king of the distant land of jade¹. The jade king could not make silk, because the emperor had kept the secret to himself. And so the princess decided² that she would bring the gift of silk to her new people. She thought of a trick, she hid everything that was needed - the silk worms, the mulberry seeds, everything - in her royal headdress. She knew that her father's guards would not dare to search her as she left for her new home. And that, my Best Beloved, is the story of how Khotan got its silk.

The tale I have just told you - a 'Just So' story of one of the greatest technology thefts of history - is one that is presented to us in paint on a plank³ of wood that's around 1,400 years old. It's known as the 'Legend of the Silk Princess' and it is now in the British Museum. But it was found in a long-deserted city on the fabled⁴ Silk Road.

"I think the Silk Road, in terms of the movement of goods and ideas, is the 'internet of antiquity⁵'." (Yo Yo Ma)

"... because it wasn't just silk that travelled, and frankincense, and rhinoceros⁶ horn, and all these wonderful products which we associate with it, but a much more humble⁷ but continuous trade - of people locally, trading to people with rather different needs and situations." (Colin Thubron)

1 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 plank   

n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目

参考例句：

• The plank was set against the wall.木板靠着墙壁。
• They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade.他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。

4 fabled   

adj.寓言中的，虚构的

参考例句：

• For the first week he never actually saw the fabled Jack. 第一周他实际上从没见到传说中的杰克。
• Aphrodite, the Greek goddness of love, is fabled to have been born of the foam of the sea. 希腊爱神阿美罗狄蒂据说是诞生于海浪泡沫之中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 antiquity   

n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹

参考例句：

• The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
• There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。

6 rhinoceros   

n.犀牛

参考例句：

• The rhinoceros has one horn on its nose.犀牛鼻子上有一个角。
• The body of the rhinoceros likes a cattle and the head likes a triangle.犀牛的形体像牛，头呈三角形。

7 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。