中国南通，滨江临海
为蓝草生长之良地
Nantong, a coastal city near
the Yangtze River estuary in China,
is favourable for
the growth of indigo plants.
两千多年前，蓝染业便在此兴起
当地百姓从蓝草中制取靛蓝
结合手工纺织与印染技术
It witnessed the rise of
blue-dyeing industry over
2,000 years ago.
Locals extracted indigo from the
plants, used hand weaving,
printing, and dyeing techniques,
一种蓝白相间的印花织物
——蓝印花布便由此制成
to make blue calico,
a blue and white printed fabric.
花版的设计与雕刻是蓝印花布的基础
手艺人将样式熟稔于心
每一次落刀，都镌刻了时间的记忆
Patterned design and engraving
are the basis of blue calico.
They are constantly on artisans' mind.
Each carving testifies
the memory of time.
黄豆粉与石灰粉的天然
组合保护了布匹的本色
A blend of soybean flour and lime
powder creates a protective layer
for the cloth’s natural color.
防染浆透过花版印在布上，
便有了花形的初始模样
The anti-dyeing paste,
printed on the cloth through
the engraved plate, produces the
initial appearance of the pattern.
阴干后的长布入缸染色
数分钟后提起
Dried long cloth is then
soaked in a dye vat and lifted
after several minutes.
靛青与氧气的交融，
让蓝印花布由黄变青、由青变蓝
As indigo and oxygen intermingle,
the blue calico changes from
yellow to cyan and from cyan to blue.
蓝白共生背后，
是手艺人巧夺天工之智
在工人师傅的刀锋下，
蓝与白的界限愈加明晰
The harmony of blue and
white displays the wisdom of
excellent workmanship.
Under the blade of craftsmen,
lines between blue and white
become more distinct.
随杆而起的蓝印花布
历经靛缸的浸润与自然的造就
显现出独特的中式色彩美
Blue calico hanging on the poles,
after experiencing the soak in the
dye vat and the power of nature,
presents unique Chinese-style
beauty of color.
布之美，在色，更在其纹理
The beauty of cloth lies more in its
decorative patterns than in its colors.
蓝印花布图案多以民间故事、
动植物隐喻的吉祥纹样为主
Blue calico patterns are mainly
auspicious ones of folk tales and
plant and animal metaphors,
龙凤呈祥、五谷丰登
简单原始的蓝白两色
诠释着中国民间艺术的特有风貌
承载着一方土地中的生活故事
such as Dragon and Phoenix Bliss,
Bumper Harvest.
The plain, pure blue and white colors
demonstrate the unique features of
Chinese folk art and carry
the living stories on this land.
蓝印花布，
是毕其一生的坚守
是代代相传的技艺
更是印记于心的一抹东方情结
Blue calicois a lifelong commitment,
craft inheritance, and an oriental
sentiment dear to many hearts.
漫漫时光长河里，
流传千年后再铸芳华
Through the river of time,
it came down from thousands of years
ago and now glows with new vitality.
由江苏省人民政府新闻办公室、新华社新闻信息中心江苏中心联合制作的《江苏文化名片》系列微纪录片推出第六个篇章：蓝白之作。以“取之于蓝”“用之于蓝”“胜之于蓝”三部分为脉络，艺术呈现国家级非物质文化遗产——南通蓝印花布印染技艺从刻版、刮浆、染色、刮灰到晾晒的全过程，匠心讲述一代代非遗传承人的坚守与传承。
