寧波草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)是浙江(jiang)省寧波市的傳(chuan)統手(shou)工藝(yi)品。采用燈心(xin)草(cao)(cao)、蒲(pu)(pu)草(cao)(cao)、馬(ma)蘭草(cao)(cao)等編(bian)織而成(cheng)的,在(zai)草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)家(jia)族(zu)中,最負盛名的要數浙江(jiang)寧波的“寧席(xi)(xi)”。草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)又可分為(wei)普通草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)、蒲(pu)(pu)草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)、咸(xian)草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)、馬(ma)蘭草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)。
寧(ning)(ning)波草(cao)席,亦稱(cheng)寧(ning)(ning)席,古稱(cheng)明席,俗稱(cheng)滑(hua)(hua)子(zi),浙江(jiang)著名(ming)傳統特(te)產(chan)。草(cao)席是(shi)寧(ning)(ning)波鄞(yin)縣(已更名(ming)為(wei)鄞(yin)州區(qu))的重要特(te)產(chan)。并以(yi)黃古林(lin)一(yi)帶(dai)草(cao)席歷史(shi)悠久(jiu),質量(liang)特(te)優(you)。由于黃古林(lin)一(yi)帶(dai)氣候(hou)土壤適宜,所產(chan)席草(cao)色澤(ze)青白(bai)而(er)(er)帶(dai)綠,粗細均(jun)勻而(er)(er)挺直(zhi),草(cao)壁薄(bo)而(er)(er)堅韌,草(cao)芯豐滿而(er)(er)有彈性,拉力強而(er)(er)不(bu)易斷(duan),加(jia)上編織技術悠久(jiu)而(er)(er)精(jing)湛,故織成的草(cao)席,質地精(jing)良,挺括硬實,柔(rou)軟光(guang)滑(hua)(hua),收(shou)藏簡便。不(bu)用時卷席成筒(tong),不(bu)占地位;使(shi)用時,一(yi)經溫水拭抹,不(bu)但更加(jia)光(guang)滑(hua)(hua),且能(neng)透出(chu)一(yi)股沁人的幽香(xiang)。草(cao)席一(yi)般是(shi)由白(bai)麻或綠麻為(wei)筋編織而(er)(er)成,而(er)(er)以(yi)白(bai)麻筋草(cao)席為(wei)佳。寧(ning)(ning)波草(cao)席在國(guo)內外享有盛譽,年(nian)總產(chan)量(liang)數百(bai)萬(wan)條(tiao),除暢銷全國(guo)各地外,還銷往日(ri)本、東南(nan)亞及香(xiang)港等(deng)國(guo)家和地區(qu)。
寧波草席(xi)傳(chuan)統的生產方(fang)式(shi)是,采用(yong)木質(zhi)立(li)(li)式(shi)機(ji)編(bian)織,靠(kao)手工(gong)操作。新中國(guo)建立(li)(li)后,進入80年代(dai)中后期開(kai)始使用(yong)電(dian)動(dong)鐵機(ji),提高(gao)了工(gong)效。
黃古林(lin)一帶所產(chan)(chan)草(cao)(cao)席(xi)歷史悠(you)久(jiu),據(ju)《四(si)(si)明郡(jun)志》載,早在唐代,寧(ning)波草(cao)(cao)席(xi)已遠銷(xiao)(xiao)各地。距今已有1000多年歷史。寧(ning)波作(zuo)為全國三(san)大(da)對(dui)外貿易口岸,宋元明各個朝代,寧(ning)波草(cao)(cao)席(xi)都已作(zuo)為特(te)產(chan)(chan)銷(xiao)(xiao)往(wang)海外。到了清代,寧(ning)波草(cao)(cao)席(xi)生(sheng)產(chan)(chan)達到鼎(ding)盛時(shi)期,除內銷(xiao)(xiao)外,還(huan)遠銷(xiao)(xiao)東南亞各國和歐洲、非洲等(deng)一些國家,成為重要(yao)出口產(chan)(chan)品。1954年,周恩來總(zong)理參(can)加日內瓦會議(yi)時(shi),還(huan)特(te)地帶了四(si)(si)十條(tiao)寧(ning)波草(cao)(cao)席(xi)饋贈(zeng)國際友人(ren),備受(shou)歡迎。
寧波草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)以(yi)質(zhi)量好(hao),品種齊(qi),工(gong)藝考究而(er)(er)(er)著(zhu)稱(cheng)于(yu)世(shi)。歷史上(shang)(shang)(shang)寧波草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)還為抗擊(ji)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)入侵作(zuo)出過重要貢獻。這(zhe)(zhe)個故事發生在(zai)南宋(song)時(shi)期。據(ju)《佛祖統記(ji)(ji)》、《寧波府(fu)志》記(ji)(ji)載,自從康(kang)王趙(zhao)構建立南宋(song)朝廷以(yi)后,由于(yu)偏安臨安,根(gen)基(ji)薄(bo)弱,難(nan)以(yi)抵御強大(da)的金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)。便(bian)于(yu)建炎三年(公元(yuan)1129年)放棄臨安,跨(kua)駐(zhu)明(ming)州。因(yin)明(ming)州背負大(da)海(hai),便(bian)準備燎(liao)撞,一(yi)旦受到(dao)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)攻(gong)擊(ji),以(yi)便(bian)揚(yang)帆出海(hai)。建炎四年正(zheng)月,金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)以(yi)更大(da)規模南犯(fan)。大(da)隊(dui)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)渡(du)錢(qian)塘,破紹興,占余(yu)姚,直逼明(ming)州。趙(zhao)構聞(wen)報(bao),大(da)驚失色,隨即帶(dai)領后妃(fei)、待從,登上(shang)(shang)(shang)艨(meng)艟,直駛定海(hai)。當時(shi),留(liu)守(shou)明(ming)州一(yi)帶(dai)的御營前(qian)營統制張(zhang)俊(jun),與副(fu)統制劉洪道守(shou)于(yu)城樓,遣(qian)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)掩擊(ji),殺(sha)傷(shang)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)無數(shu)(shu),首戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)大(da)捷(jie)。金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)只得(de)屯守(shou)余(yu)姚,請求大(da)元(yuan)帥兀(wu)(wu)(wu)術增援。兀(wu)(wu)(wu)術聞(wen)報(bao)大(da)怒,便(bian)帶(dai)領大(da)隊(dui)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)將(jiang)再犯(fan)明(ming)州。張(zhang)俊(jun)見(jian)(jian)兀(wu)(wu)(wu)術來勢兇猛,準備于(yu)鄞縣西鄉(xiang)高橋(qiao)一(yi)帶(dai)迎戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)。他(ta)騎(qi)馬實地(di)(di)(di)勘察這(zhe)(zhe)一(yi)帶(dai)地(di)(di)(di)形(xing),騎(qi)著(zhu)、騎(qi)著(zhu),突然戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)馬四蹄打滑(hua),竟至四腳朝天,把(ba)張(zhang)俊(jun)掀翻在(zai)席(xi)(xi)(xi)草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)地(di)(di)(di)里(li),弄得(de)渾身泥(ni)漿(jiang)。張(zhang)俊(jun)爬起(qi)身來一(yi)看,只見(jian)(jian)地(di)(di)(di)上(shang)(shang)(shang)晾(liang)著(zhu)幾領草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi),馬蹄被草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)打滑(hua),頓時(shi)計上(shang)(shang)(shang)心來。他(ta)管(guan)不(bu)了擦洗泥(ni)漿(jiang),立即召集當地(di)(di)(di)百(bai)姓(xing),曉以(yi)抗擊(ji)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)之大(da)義,動員百(bai)姓(xing)把(ba)家里(li)草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)悉(xi)數(shu)(shu)鋪到(dao)過往(wang)大(da)道。眾百(bai)姓(xing)一(yi)聽,都(dou)愿意為保(bao)衛鄉(xiang)土(tu),奮(fen)勇參(can)戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan),紛紛把(ba)草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)鋪于(yu)沿途路(lu)(lu)上(shang)(shang)(shang)。次(ci)日,宋(song)軍(jun)以(yi)大(da)隊(dui)埋伏(fu)于(yu)高橋(qiao)下,而(er)(er)(er)以(yi)小隊(dui)在(zai)前(qian)路(lu)(lu)迎戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)。戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)不(bu)幾個回合(he),宋(song)軍(jun)便(bian)循著(zhu)河邊(bian)長有青草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)的小路(lu)(lu)撤(che)退,金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兀(wu)(wu)(wu)術以(yi)為可欺,揮動大(da)隊(dui)人(ren)馬追殺(sha)過來。不(bu)料戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)馬一(yi)踏(ta)上(shang)(shang)(shang)路(lu)(lu)上(shang)(shang)(shang)草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi),便(bian)馬蹄打滑(hua),人(ren)仰馬翻。在(zai)后面的騎(qi)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)不(bu)知前(qian)邊(bian)情(qing)況(kuang),揚(yang)鞭催馬而(er)(er)(er)來。也被滑(hua)倒在(zai)地(di)(di)(di),自相殘踏(ta)。此時(shi),埋伏(fu)在(zai)橋(qiao)下、田塍里(li)的宋(song)軍(jun)和義兵(bing)(bing)(bing)見(jian)(jian)狀,一(yi)齊(qi)殺(sha)出,殺(sha)得(de)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)血(xue)流(liu)成河,殺(sha)得(de)金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兀(wu)(wu)(wu)術魂(hun)飛魄(po)散,趕緊(jin)敗退。正(zheng)如清代著(zhu)名學(xue)者萬(wan)斯同在(zai)《鄮(mao)西竹枝(zhi)詞(ci)》中寫道:“高宗航海(hai)駐(zhu)鄞邦,曾(ceng)把(ba)高橋(qiao)作(zuo)戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)場,卻恨元(yuan)戎輕(qing)縱敵,復教兀(wu)(wu)(wu)術渡(du)錢(qian)塘。”古時(shi)候,人(ren)們叫金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)為“韃子(zi)”,自從草(cao)(cao)(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)滑(hua)倒金(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing),打了勝(sheng)仗以(yi)后,寧波人(ren)就(jiu)叫席(xi)(xi)(xi)子(zi)為“滑(hua)子(zi)”了。