介绍:
(Ambience: Waves with BGM)
Tanmen(谭门) is a small town that sits along the east coast of China&`&s southernmost Hainan Province. With a history of more than 1,000 years, it&`&s a renowned fish market in China, as well as a well-known fishing port.
81-year-old fishermen Su Chengfen has spent most of his lifetime on the sea.
(Act 1, Su Chengfen, male mandarin)
"We started from Tanmen port, then sailed to Xisha and Nansha islands. We had no nautical chart at that time, so we transcribed the "Geng Lu Bu"(更路簿) to guide us on the way. "
The guide Su Chengfen mentioned, "Geng Lu Bu", is a book of maritime routes that records names of islands, sailing direction, weather and distance. For centuries, fishermen learned about the climate and ocean currents from the Geng Lu Bu. The book also helped identify marine resources and locations good for fishing and living.
(Act 2, Su Chengfen, male mandarin)
"Once you understand the Geng Lu Bu, you can become an experienced captain."
This sentence has been passed down from generation to generation among locals. Chinese fisherman&`&s discovery of the South China Sea can be dated back 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty, which is also the earliest recorded mention of the sea in the world. They identified the oceans through watching the astrology and the color of the sea, and named the islands using local dialects. After centuries&`& exploring, the first "Geng Lu Bu" appeared in the early 14th century.
Wu Shicun is the president of National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
(Act 3, Wu Shicun, male mandarin)
"Geng Lu Bu, which has been handed down from the Ming dynasty, is a map formed in the process of Chinese fishermen sailing on the South China Sea. It can be considered as important evidence proving the Chinese people&`&s development and management of the South China Sea as it detailed the routes, name of islands and reefs and fishing resources when fishermen conducted their fishing activities around the four archipelagos of the South China Sea and nearby waters. In fact, many names of the South China Sea islands, including names given by western people, were translated from Geng Lu Bu."
With accurate records of weather, oceans and island names, "Geng Lu Bu" is regarded as fishermen&`&s Bible. Su Chengfen says Geng Lu Bu made it possible for fishermen to sail in the South China Sea, when they only had a compass.
(Act 4, Su Chengfen, male mandarin)
"The furthest place I have reached is Zengmu Reef. I&`&ve been everywhere on the sea route leading to Nansha Islands back and forth for many times."
(Storms, waves, bad weather sound effects)
Sailing and fishing in the sea is not an easy thing, especially when there are typhoon, storm and pirates. Su Chengfen says that once when he was sailing in Xisha Islands in 1973, he found the color of the sea water was unusual. He recalled the relevant account in Geng Lu Bu, and landed the boat immediately in the nearest island. In the next few days, howling winds, torrential rains and waves higher then ten meters hit the islands.
He says without the Geng Lu Bu, he would not have made his way back.
(Act 5, Su Chengfen, male mandarin)
"The Geng Lu Bu records clearly the distance between islands, and the sailing orientations."
Respecting and obeying the nature rules is the first thing local fishermen learn from "Geng Lu Bu".
Over the centuries, fishermen in the South China Sea lived in harmony with nature using the guidebook left by their ancestors. Each winter, the northwest monsoon blew away Tanmen&`&s fishing boats to the South China Sea, several months later, the southwest monsoon brought these vessels home, fully loaded with seafood.
(Modern fishing)
Years later, the fishing boats have been replaced by modern boats, but the cultural tradition in the South China Sea remain unchanged.
(Fisher woman singing, mixed with seabirds and waves)
Ancestor worship, is an important aspect of the traditional Chinese culture. And in Tanmen Town, fishermen worship the "108 Men", a tradition which can be traced back to a local legend. 500 years ago, 108 fishermen died in the South China sea due to typhoon, afterwards, they are regarded by the later generations as their saviors and guardian angels when sailing in the sea.
Ding Zhile is the President of Fishermen Association in Tanmen Town.
(Act 6 Ding Zhile, male mandarin)
"In order to memorize these 108 fellows, we constructed worship temples in our natural villages, including Yongxing Island in Xisha, and Taiping Island in Nansha."
(Ambience: Ancestor Worships)
People worship the 108 Men by spilling wine, burning incense, kowtowing and praying. Local fishermen believe the souls of 108 Men have blessed their fishery homeland of the South China Sea from generation to generation. They have also witnessed all the great changes and developments of their maritime bible, Geng Lu Bu, written by themselves based on hundreds of years of experiences of exploring the sea, extraordinary courage and wisdom.
Currently, their are 12 versions of "Geng Lu Bu" left in the world, recording more than 200 routes, 7 transportation hubs and fishing centers of the South China Sea. In 2008, "Geng Lu Bu" was officially listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Touching the faded pages of a "Geng Lu Bu", Su Chengfen&`&s eyes sparkles.
(Act 7 Su Chengfen, male mandarin)
"This contains a long history. Our family used to have one "Geng Lu Bu" for two or three hundred years. But later, paper from the original one got worn-out due to the passage of time. Then I transcribed it, and kept it untill now."
Old fishermen like Su Chengfen believes even at a time when navigation technology is rapidly developed, Geng Lu Bu still has its precious meaning. Instead of just being an article of nostalgia, it has become a symbol of Chinese fisherman&`&s sea-exploring dream, centuries of defending their maritime homeland in the South China Sea, with the principles of respecting the sea, and living in harmony with it.
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