明瓦(wa)廊(lang)位(wei)于南京市秦淮區中山南路西側,南起大(da)香爐,北至石鼓(gu)路東口(kou)。明代此地是經營明瓦(wa)的(de)場(chang)所,故(gu)名。
據清同(tong)治間《秦(qin)淮志》載:羊(yang)角燈者,舊為金陵特產。用(yong)羊(yang)角煎熬(ao)成液,和以彩色,凝而壓薄(bo)成片,謂之明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦。金陵街市(shi),有明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦廊,皆制此者也。連綴明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦而成燈,透光明(ming)(ming)(ming),無火患(huan),且不(bu)脆裂,故宮中亦用(yong)之。注:簡言之,明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦即古代的玻璃(li),不(bu)過原(yuan)料用(yong)的是(shi)羊(yang)角。明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦廊在今新(xin)街口附(fu)近(jin)。
明(ming)(ming)瓦廊(lang)之名,源于明(ming)(ming)初(chu),為明(ming)(ming)清時的主(zhu)要商道之一,其(qi)路面較寬,中間是(shi)(shi)官廊(lang),商鋪(pu)櫛比,是(shi)(shi)商業(ye)繁華(hua)之地。在明(ming)(ming)朝(chao)的地圖(tu)上(shang)就標有明(ming)(ming)瓦廊(lang),可見它在當(dang)時社會中的作用(yong)是(shi)(shi)非常(chang)巨大的。
明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦是(shi)民間蓋房(fang)嵌于窗戶(hu)或天棚上的(de)一種(zhong)透明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦,用半透明(ming)(ming)(ming)的(de)蠣(li)、蚌等物的(de)殼(ke),磨成薄片制成。據《肇慶府志》記載:“ 蠔(hao)光(guang)出(chu)陽江海中,蠔(hao)別種(zhong),無肉,治其殼(ke),施以窗隔,薄而明(ming)(ming)(ming),謂之(zhi)明(ming)(ming)(ming)瓦。”
明(ming)(ming)代時(shi),對中國來說,玻璃是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)進口(kou)的(de)奢侈品(pin),就是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)般富(fu)裕人(ren)家,也裝潢(huang)不(bu)(bu)起。人(ren)們(men)(men)做窗(chuang)(chuang)戶(hu),搭天棚,都是(shi)(shi)(shi)用(yong)蠣、蚌之殼,磨(mo)制(zhi)成(cheng)半透明(ming)(ming)的(de)薄(bo)片(pian),鑲嵌在花格木窗(chuang)(chuang)上。當(dang)時(shi)稱這種(zhong)薄(bo)片(pian)叫“明(ming)(ming)瓦”。但明(ming)(ming)代南(nan)京的(de)許多明(ming)(ming)瓦卻并不(bu)(bu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)用(yong)這種(zhong)原料做成(cheng)的(de),而(er)是(shi)(shi)(shi)用(yong)羊(yang)角代替。這是(shi)(shi)(shi)由于南(nan)京不(bu)(bu)產海(hai)(hai)蚌、海(hai)(hai)蠣、蠔之類,要獲得它們(men)(men)就得千里迢迢從海(hai)(hai)邊(bian)運來,一(yi)(yi)來路途(tu)較遠,二來其質硬而(er)脆,加工時(shi)稍(shao)不(bu)(bu)留神就會破碎,成(cheng)本很高(gao),因此南(nan)京人(ren)用(yong)它們(men)(men)作裝飾的(de)較少。當(dang)時(shi)大量(liang)的(de)明(ming)(ming)瓦,是(shi)(shi)(shi)用(yong)羊(yang)角熬煎成(cheng)膠,然后再(zai)擠(ji)壓成(cheng)薄(bo)片(pian)而(er)成(cheng)。
這種(zhong)明(ming)(ming)瓦(wa)(wa)成本(ben)低,且堅固耐用(yong)。當(dang)時明(ming)(ming)瓦(wa)(wa)廊就有(you)好幾家用(yong)羊(yang)(yang)角(jiao)制(zhi)作明(ming)(ming)瓦(wa)(wa)的工場。《南京(jing)文獻》記載說:“案羊(yang)(yang)角(jiao)燈者(zhe),昔金陵特產(chan),用(yong)羊(yang)(yang)角(jiao)煎熬(ao)成膠液,皆制(zhi)此(ci)者(zhe)也。聯綴明(ming)(ming)瓦(wa)(wa)而(er)成燈,透光明(ming)(ming),無火患,故清(qing)代(dai)(dai)宮中(zhong)亦用(yong)之。”清(qing)代(dai)(dai),南京(jing)地區仍(reng)普遍使用(yong)這種(zhong)明(ming)(ming)瓦(wa)(wa),特別是秦(qin)淮河兩(liang)岸(an),吳(wu)敬梓(zi)在(zai)其名著(zhu)《儒林外史》中(zhong)描寫(xie)道:“到晚來,兩(liang)邊酒樓上明(ming)(ming)角(jiao)燈,每(mei)條街上足(zu)有(you)數千盞,照耀如同白日,走路人并不帶燈籠(long)……” 可見當(dang)時此(ci)燈盛行(xing)。如今,“明(ming)(ming)瓦(wa)(wa)”時代(dai)(dai)早已過去(qu),但我們在(zai)明(ming)(ming)、清(qing)時代(dai)(dai)留下來的一(yi)些(xie)深宅大(da)院(yuan)、古廟大(da)剎里,仍(reng)可偶爾見到這種(zhong)“明(ming)(ming)瓦(wa)(wa)”。
鄭和(he)下西(xi)洋寶船采光之謎中,考古發現的8枚(mei)蚌殼,就是(shi)“明瓦(wa)”。