唐朝时期,人们就在昌南建造窑坊(kiln),烧制出一种青白瓷(bluish white
porcelain1)。青白瓷色彩晶莹,有“人造玉器“的美称,因而远近闻名,并大量出口欧洲。当时,欧洲人还不会制造瓷器,因此中国特别是昌南镇的瓷器很受欢迎。 在欧洲,昌南镇瓷器是备受珍爱的贵重物品,人们以能获得一件昌南镇瓷器为荣。因此,欧洲人就以“昌南“作为瓷器和生产瓷器的“中国“的代称。久而久之,欧洲人就把昌南的本意忘却了,只记得它是“瓷器“,即“中国“了。
In the Tang Dynasty, people started to build
kilns2 to make bluish white porcelain in Changnan. The bluish white porcelain was glittering and had the reputation of artificial
jade3, so it became famous home and abroad and was exported to Europe in large amount. At that time, Europeans were not able to make porcelain,so porcelain from China, especially from Changnan, was warmly welcomed. In Europe, porcelain from Changnan was
luxurious4 article cherished by everyone, and obtaining even one piece of it would make people feel very proud. In this way, Europeans used Changnan as the code name for china (porcelain) and the place of its production, China. Gradually, Europeans forgot the original meaning of Changnan, only remembering it is “china“, namely“China“.