起源與演進
Origin and
evolution
玻璃這種日常常生活中常見的透明且堅硬的材料，到底是在何處由何人所製造出來的呢？至今尚未有明確的答案，不過可以肯定的事實是至少經由傳說中得知是人類偶然發現矽砂與蘇打塊、木灰等，遇熱熔融後自然產生的，而後來再刻意地以同樣的配料以及熱熔的方式製造出人類最初的人工玻璃。以下先就玻璃的起源加以敘述，以便對這種特殊材料的產生有所瞭解。
Glass
is a transparent material found in the daily life. But where did it come from
and who first make it? There is still no exact answer to these questions. But one
fact can be sure of, at least from the legend, is that people accidentally discovered
that when combine sand, soda-line and ashes in high temperature, they become glass.
Latter, people tried to combine the same materials and fired in high
temperature and there is the first man-made glass. We will describe the origin
of glass in the followings to better understand this special material.
以及羅馬的博物學者 Gaius P linius Secundus的大作『博物誌』（Nature History）、英國的地理學者 Strabon 的『地理誌』（Strabon Geographia）、歷史學家Tacitus Cornelius 的『歷史』（Tacitus Cornelius Historia），以及另外一位歷史學家 Josephus Flavius 的『猶太戰記』（Josephus Flavius Bellum Judaicum）等關於玻璃傳說的記載，受到後世學者的白砂成分分析，以及砂上的玻璃生成實驗，証實了玻璃產生的可能性。上述諸傳說的記載當中以羅馬的博物學者 Gaius plinius Secundus的『博物誌』（Gaius plinius Secundus Historia Naturatis）對於玻璃起源的敘述最為詳盡，其第36卷第65項關於玻璃起源的傳說如下：
Japanese glass historian Mr.
Yoshimizu Tsuneo (1992) mentioned in his dissert about the origin of glass: “A general
believe is that glass was discovered around 5000 years ago. There are three
theories about its origin; one from English Egyptologist Frinders Petrid
(1853-1942) who believed that the glass was originated in Mesopotamia,
introduced from Asia; the second theory is that glass originally discovered at Egypt,
which can be affirmed by many Egyptian archeology data; the third theory is the
assay developed recently by L. Oppenheim of Chicago University. He claimed that
the glass is originated from Syria. The first two theories confronted strong
challenge and rejection due to lacking of proper archeology proofs. The last
theory is supported by decoding of a clay board, and by articles such as
“Nature History”, a masterpiece by Roman Natural historian Gaius Plinius Secundus, “Geographic History” by English
geographer Strabon, “ History” by historian Tacitus Cornelius, and “Josephus
Flavius Bellum Jusaicum” by the other historian Josephus Flavius. They all
recorded the legends related to glass. Through white sand analysis and sand-to-glass
experiment by scholar latter, they proved the possibility of glass production
at the ancient time. Among those articles, “ Nature History” provides the most
thorough description about the origin of glass In Volumn 36 Item 65:
以腓尼基而聞名的敘利亞與猶太國界的卡爾梅爾山（Caramelo）山麓的中段，有一個名為Candebia的沼湖，這個沼湖被認為是貝魯斯河（Belus）的水源，往下流大約五浬處後注入Putoramaiwos植民市附近的海。川流緩慢，此河水不適合飲用。但是被認為是神聖的儀式用水。此河川為濁流，產生深的水路往下流，只有海水退潮時才會出現河砂。那是因為海浪沖走污濁的泥土，產生了潔淨的砂。而此砂又加上海水的強烈的收斂作用，方成為可用之材料。此海岸雖不足半浬長，但是玻璃的生產在這幾百年間都已經全部依附在這個地域。往昔，販賣天然蘇打的腓尼基商船就是由此海岸入港。而為了要準備伙食，商人們巡視岸邊，但是因為找不到可以作為支撐大鍋用爐灶的石頭，所以他們就將裝載的貨物蘇打塊取出當作爐灶，將大鍋放在上面。當那蘇打塊遇熱與白砂熔合時，有幾條未曾見過的半透明的液體流了出來，而據說這就成為玻璃的起源。」。
In the mid of sub mountain
area of Mont. Caramelo next to Israel and Syria (famed by the name Phoenician),
there was a lake called Candelbia. It was considered the origin of river Belus which
flowed into the ocean five miles downstream at the colonial city Putoramaiwos.
The river flowed slowly and the water is not suitable for drinking. However, it
was conceived holy water and used in the ceremony. This river contained
turbidity current which generated deep waterway downstream. Only in the period
of low tide, one can see the river sand. That’s because the waves rushed out
the dirt and left clean sand. Through astringent effect by the sea water, the
sand became a useful material. The shore was less then half a mile. Nonetheless,
glass production had developed within this area for hundreds of year. Before, it
was a sea port to Phoenician sold soda Merchantman who disembarked here. In
order to prepare food, the merchants made their rounds in the shore finding no
stones to serve as stoves for supporting cooking pots. Instead they used the
merchandise soda lime bricks to hold the stoves. When soda lime melted with
sands in a high heat, they noticed a few strips of translucent liquid flowing
out that they had never seen before. This is the allegedly origin of glass.”
[1]由水常雄。1992。《世界ガラス美術全集l》。日本東京：求龍堂。頁138~141。
Yoshimizu Tsuneo。1992。《World Glass Art Collections》。Tokyo Japan: 。 Page 138~141。
