羽(yu)毛扇(shan)(shan)已經有(you)(you)(you)三千年的(de)(de)歷(li)史了,中華傳統工(gong)藝品。在國(guo)內外(wai)享有(you)(you)(you)盛(sheng)譽的(de)(de)湖州羽(yu)毛扇(shan)(shan)是中國(guo)歷(li)史悠久、風(feng)格獨特的(de)(de)民族傳統產品之一。明文(wen)震亨《長物志(zhi)》卷七(qi):“扇(shan)(shan),羽(yu)扇(shan)(shan)最(zui)古。”“扇(shan)(shan)”字從“羽(yu)”也(ye)證明了扇(shan)(shan)子大家(jia)族中,以(yi)羽(yu)扇(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)出現(xian)為最(zui)早。晉崔豹(bao)《古今注(zhu)》:“雉尾扇(shan)(shan)起(qi)于(yu)(yu)殷世高宗。”據前秦王嘉《拾(shi)遺記》記載,羽(yu)扇(shan)(shan)始于(yu)(yu)周昭(zhao)王時(shi),有(you)(you)(you)盂夏取鵲翅為扇(shan)(shan)之說。扇(shan)(shan)字按中國(guo)象形文(wen)字理解,最(zui)早的(de)(de)扇(shan)(shan)子是用(yong)禽羽(yu)制(zhi)作,有(you)(you)(you)門戶之家(jia)才有(you)(you)(you)權(quan)擁有(you)(you)(you)。扇(shan)(shan)子起(qi)源于(yu)(yu)虞舜時(shi)期,用(yong)于(yu)(yu)障蔽日,也(ye)是權(quan)威的(de)(de)標志(zhi)。
諸葛(ge)亮,手持的應該是白鶴羽(yu)毛(mao)做的“白羽(yu)扇”,據(ju)《語林》上記載(zai)著:諸葛(ge)武侯與宣王(wang)在(zai)渭(wei)邊(bian),將戰,武侯乘(cheng)素輿,葛(ge)巾(jin),白羽(yu)扇,指揮三軍(jun),三軍(jun)皆隨其進止。
在人們(men)的(de)印象中,諸葛(ge)亮的(de)扇子非同尋(xun)常,它已成(cheng)為一(yi)個特定意義(yi)的(de)道(dao)具,與諸葛(ge)亮的(de)名字一(yi)樣深入人心。然而(er),諸葛(ge)亮的(de)扇子從何而(er)來?在長江流域,流傳著這樣一(yi)種說法。
相傳(chuan)諸(zhu)葛亮(liang)小(xiao)的時候(hou)放牛,結識了一(yi)(yi)(yi)位白胡子(zi)(zi)老(lao)頭,兩人常在一(yi)(yi)(yi)塊讀(du)書玩耍。老(lao)頭行蹤神秘,引起了小(xiao)諸(zhu)葛的好奇(qi)。一(yi)(yi)(yi)日,他(ta)偷(tou)偷(tou)將白石灰放入老(lao)頭的竹拐杖里,老(lao)頭走后,他(ta)順著白石灰印找到一(yi)(yi)(yi)棵大樹下。原(yuan)來老(lao)頭是一(yi)(yi)(yi)只金(jin)鳥(一(yi)(yi)(yi)說為老(lao)鷹(ying))變的,正在樹上打盹呢!諸(zhu)葛亮(liang)就在樹下守(shou)候(hou),忽然,金(jin)鳥打了一(yi)(yi)(yi)個哈欠,從(cong)嘴(zui)里掉出一(yi)(yi)(yi)顆珠子(zi)(zi),正好落(luo)入諸(zhu)葛亮(liang)口中(zhong),“撲(pu)通(tong)“一(yi)(yi)(yi)下滑入肚(du)中(zhong)。
老頭驚(jing)醒(xing)后(hou),對(dui)諸葛亮說(shuo)了實(shi)言:我(wo)是修煉了三千年的(de)(de)金鳥,全(quan)靠這顆珠子(zi)活(huo)命(ming)。現在(zai),珠子(zi)沒有(you)(you)(you)了,我(wo)也活(huo)不(bu)長了。我(wo)知道你是個(ge)聰明的(de)(de)人,所以有(you)(you)(you)意(yi)成全(quan)你。你必須(xu)在(zai)八月十五這天來這里找到(dao)我(wo)的(de)(de)尸體,拔下我(wo)的(de)(de)羽毛,編成扇(shan)子(zi),日后(hou)有(you)(you)(you)何難事(shi),搖(yao)搖(yao)扇(shan)子(zi)就有(you)(you)(you)辦法了。
諸葛亮的(de)扇子就(jiu)這(zhe)么(me)來的(de),以后他在(zai)劉(liu)備手下當了軍(jun)師,這(zhe)把羽扇幫他出謀劃策(ce),屢建功績,成為智慧和謀略的(de)象征。
扇(shan)字(zi)(zi)按中國(guo)象(xiang)形文字(zi)(zi)理解,最早的(de)扇(shan)子(zi)是(shi)用(yong)(yong)禽羽(yu)(yu)(yu)制(zhi)作,有(you)(you)門戶之(zhi)家(jia)才(cai)(cai)有(you)(you)權(quan)擁(yong)有(you)(you)。扇(shan)子(zi)起源于虞舜時期(qi),用(yong)(yong)于障蔽(bi)日,也是(shi)權(quan)威(wei)的(de)標志。古代皇帝用(yong)(yong)雉羽(yu)(yu)(yu)制(zhi)作長柄羽(yu)(yu)(yu)扇(shan)作為(wei)出行儀(yi)仗,以(yi)顯示(shi)王者(zhe)的(de)高(gao)貴權(quan)威(wei),后(hou)歷朝沿襲不(bu)衰,及(ji)至清代。在(zai)三國(guo),諸葛亮手中的(de)鵝毛扇(shan),則被后(hou)人譽為(wei)智慧(hui)和才(cai)(cai)干的(de)象(xiang)征(zheng)。羽(yu)(yu)(yu)毛扇(shan)乃是(shi)輕、巧之(zhi)物,所扇(shan)出的(de)徐徐微風(feng)(feng),就連年老體弱(ruo)者(zhe)、孕(yun)婦、產后(hou)母子(zi)都很適宜使用(yong)(yong)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)毛扇(shan)。《唐書(shu)》:其扇(shan)風(feng)(feng)緩而(er)涼(liang),病弱(ruo)者(zhe)用(yong)(yong)之(zhi),亦不(bu)傷風(feng)(feng)感冒,孕(yun)婦尤為(wei)適宜。
在國內(nei)外享有盛譽(yu)的湖州羽毛扇,是我國歷史悠(you)久(jiu)、風格獨(du)特(te)的民族傳統產品之(zhi)一。
用(yong)(yong)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)毛(mao)(mao)作扇(shan),在我國已(yi)(yi)有(you)數千年(nian)(nian)歷(li)(li)史。陸機《羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)扇(shan)賦》說(shuo)(shuo):“昔楚襄王會于章臺之(zhi)上,大夫宋玉、唐勒侍,皆操白鶴(he)之(zhi)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)以為(wei)(wei)扇(shan)”。清﹒張燕昌(chang)《羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)扇(shan)譜》記載(zai)更詳,說(shuo)(shuo)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)“古今注謂(wei)其制起自殷高(gao)宗,周禮巾車為(wei)(wei)重翟。說(shuo)(shuo)者謂(wei)僅在儀衛。至(zhi)三國時(shi),諸葛亮捉(zhuo)白羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)扇(shan)指揮三軍。始(shi)為(wei)(wei)今羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)扇(shan)所昉,其產以湖(hu)(hu)州(zhou)(zhou)為(wei)(wei)盛。每歲(sui)采羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)選刷,或(huo)白或(huo)染,匯合成扇(shan),復用(yong)(yong)利刀破(po)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)管,用(yong)(yong)鶴(he)鸛等尾下甬(yong)毛(mao)(mao)毛(mao)(mao)綴之(zhi),以美觀。所用(yong)(yong)鳥羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)種(zhong)類不一,而(er)以雁鷹(ying)為(wei)(wei)多見”。據傳說(shuo)(shuo),三國時(shi)期湖(hu)(hu)州(zhou)(zhou)已(yi)(yi)出羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan),但尚無從嵇考。現據制扇(shan)老藝人回憶,湖(hu)(hu)州(zhou)(zhou)最老的(de)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)毛(mao)(mao)房(fang)店是邱義豐,已(yi)(yi)有(you)一百七(qi)、八十年(nian)(nian)歷(li)(li)史,而(er)在該店創設(she)以前,湖(hu)(hu)州(zhou)(zhou)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)已(yi)(yi)盛行百余年(nian)(nian)。由此可見,湖(hu)(hu)州(zhou)(zhou)羽(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)的(de)歷(li)(li)史至(zhi)少(shao)也有(you)數百年(nian)(nian)了。
湖(hu)(hu)(hu)州羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)特(te)點是(shi):毛(mao)(mao)片(pian)平薄,質軟風柔(rou)(rou),制(zhi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)精(jing)致(zhi),式(shi)樣美(mei)觀(guan),俗稱:“清涼悠悠鳥毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)”。人們(men)常(chang)說此(ci)種扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)子(zi)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)出來(lai)的(de)(de)風是(shi)“和風”,特(te)別適宜于(yu)(yu)(yu)老、弱(ruo)、病人及(ji)孕婦使用(yong),不(bu)會扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)出病來(lai),因而(er)被人們(men)譽為(wei)(wei)“納涼妙(miao)品”。湖(hu)(hu)(hu)州羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)何以質量獨(du)佳(jia)?《湖(hu)(hu)(hu)州府志(zhi)》說:“羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao)外來(lai)之物,吾郡(jun)中(zhong)(zhong)溪水(shui)刷之,則(ze)潤澤(ze)而(er)有(you)光彩,制(zhi)亦精(jing)致(zhi),他處所罕見也(ye)。”湖(hu)(hu)(hu)州民間對(dui)羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)柔(rou)(rou)軟潤澤(ze),有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)個有(you)趣(qu)的(de)(de)神(shen)話故事。傳說“八(ba)仙”之一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)的(de)(de)呂洞賓,曾在湖(hu)(hu)(hu)州城(cheng)(cheng)內駱駝橋堍賣湯團,用(yong)古橋下之水(shui)而(er)煮(zhu),其(qi)味鮮美(mei)可口,生意興隆。此(ci)后(hou),制(zhi)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)藝(yi)人也(ye)專(zhuan)取駱駝橋下的(de)(de)水(shui)來(lai)洗刷羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao),洗后(hou)果然羽(yu)片(pian)色(se)澤(ze)光亮,毛(mao)(mao)質柔(rou)(rou)韌,惹人喜愛。當然,神(shen)話只是(shi)神(shen)話,而(er)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)州城(cheng)(cheng)內為(wei)(wei)苕溪所經(jing),苕溪發(fa)源(yuan)于(yu)(yu)(yu)天(tian)目山,水(shui)質佳(jia)卻是(shi)真(zhen)實的(de)(de),故洗刷之羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao)會柔(rou)(rou)軟而(er)富(fu)有(you)光澤(ze)。除水(shui)質外,選料嚴格(ge),制(zhi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)精(jing)致(zhi)尤為(wei)(wei)關鍵。羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao)采(cai)用(yong)野(ye)禽(qin)和家(jia)禽(qin)兩種,野(ye)禽(qin)主要(yao)用(yong)雁、鷹、鶴(he)(he)、鴟(chi)、雕、鷺鷥、天(tian)鵝和青雞等等的(de)(de)翅尾(wei),此(ci)類(lei)鳥產于(yu)(yu)(yu)太湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、洪澤(ze)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)和鄱陽湖(hu)(hu)(hu)泊周(zhou)圍的(de)(de)蘆葦密層(ceng)之中(zhong)(zhong)。家(jia)禽(qin)選用(yong)杭嘉水(shui)鄉所產的(de)(de)白鵝和后(hou)來(lai)引進的(de)(de)灰鵝的(de)(de)翎(ling)羽(yu),還大量從南(nan)京(jing)、蕪湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、江西(xi)等地(di)采(cai)購。制(zhi)成(cheng)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)把羽(yu)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),要(yao)經(jing)過(guo)選毛(mao)(mao)、出片(pian)、洗片(pian)、理片(pian)、縫片(pian)、接管、串(chuan)毛(mao)(mao)、裝(zhuang)柄(bing)(bing)、整形、裝(zhuang)絨(rong)、繪(hui)畫(hua)等十(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)道工(gong)(gong)(gong)序,整個工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝(yi)過(guo)程要(yao)求一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)絲不(bu)茍。配制(zhi)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)柄(bing)(bing)也(ye)很講究。據《湖(hu)(hu)(hu)州府志(zhi)》記載:湖(hu)(hu)(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)人制(zhi)鵝毛(mao)(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),“其(qi)柄(bing)(bing)即將(jiang)羽(yu)管劈絲編織,大抵用(yong)鵝羽(yu),其(qi)貴重者(zhe)用(yong)鶴(he)(he)飾柄(bing)(bing),用(yong)瑪瑙、檀香(xiang)鏈銅絲為(wei)(wei)釘鉸,其(qi)價(jia)有(you)至數金(jin)者(zhe)。”爾后(hou),一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)般扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)柄(bing)(bing)用(yong)竹、木(mu)制(zhi)成(cheng),有(you)的(de)(de)采(cai)用(yong)山羊腳骨加工(gong)(gong)(gong)而(er)成(cheng),山羊骨扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)柄(bing)(bing)最大的(de)(de)妙(miao)處是(shi)久執手中(zhong)(zhong)不(bu)覺潮熱,高(gao)檔扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)則(ze)用(yong)象牙和獸骨磋制(zhi)成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)柄(bing)(bing)。制(zhi)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)藝(yi)人完成(cheng)把扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)后(hou),有(you)的(de)(de)還要(yao)在扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)柄(bing)(bing)上(shang)端用(yong)羽(yu)毛(mao)(mao)管劈成(cheng)篾扎成(cheng)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)只富(fu)有(you)江南(nan)水(shui)鄉特(te)色(se)的(de)(de)小菱(ling)角,真(zhen)是(shi)獨(du)具匠心,構思巧妙(miao),錦上(shang)添花。
湖州羽(yu)毛(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)花色品種(zhong)繁多(duo),約有(you)百余種(zhong),其(qi)主要有(you)五種(zhong):如(ru)諸葛(ge)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、桃(tao)形(xing)(xing)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、圓形(xing)(xing)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、半月扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)和絨折扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)等,其(qi)中(zhong)桃(tao)形(xing)(xing)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)其(qi)形(xing)(xing)似籌桃(tao),人們作(zuo)為(wei)壽禮饋(kui)贈,工藝水平(ping)高超,造型(xing)美(mei)觀,是湖州羽(yu)毛(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)廠眾多(duo)產(chan)品中(zhong)的(de)佼佼者,一(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)八一(yi)年全國扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)子質量(liang)評比(bi)中(zhong)它和半月扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)一(yi)起(qi)被評為(wei)全國同(tong)類產(chan)品的(de)第一(yi)名。湖州羽(yu)毛(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)既經濟實(shi)用,又可作(zuo)為(wei)藝術鑒賞。在文藝舞(wu)臺上,羽(yu)毛(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)也屢次展現,如(ru)京劇(ju)折子戲《空城計(ji)》中(zhong)的(de)諸葛(ge)亮(liang),手(shou)執鶴翎扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)輕(qing)輕(qing)擺動,十(shi)分得體,是具有(you)獨特風(feng)格中(zhong)而(er)不缺(que)少的(de)道具。在舞(wu)蹈(dao)中(zhong)羽(yu)毛(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)作(zuo)為(wei)主要道具的(de)亦頗(po)多(duo)。一(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)六(liu)四年柬埔寨皇家(jia)歌(ge)舞(wu)團訪華(hua)演出(chu)時,在舞(wu)蹈(dao)中(zhong)出(chu)現的(de)六(liu)十(shi)把(ba)羽(yu)絨折扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),就是湖州羽(yu)毛(mao)扇(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)廠精工制作(zuo)而(er)成(cheng)的(de)。