原文

铁

　　铁莫良于广铁，广中产铁之山，凡有黄水渗流，则知有铁，掘之得大铁矿一枚，其状若牛，是铁牛也。循其脉路，深入掘之，斯得多铁矣。然产铁之山，有林木方可开炉，山苟童然，虽多铁亦无所用，此铁山之所以不易得也。凡铁矿一枚，层层剖之，皆有木叶纹，向背不一，山有某木。则铁矿中有某叶纹，深掘之至数十丈，莫不皆然。岭南当隆寒时，木不落叶，惟产铁之山落叶，盖铁之精英所摄，金克木之道也。铁矿有神，炉主必谨身以祭，乃敢开炉。炉之状如瓶，其口上出，口广丈许，底厚三丈五尺，崇半之，身厚二尺有奇，以灰沙盐醋筑之，巨藤束之，铁力、紫荆木支之，又凭山崖以为固。炉后有口，口外为一土墙，墙有门二扇，高五六尺，广四尺，以四人持门，一阖一开，以作风势。其二口皆镶水石，水石产东安大绛山，其质不坚，不坚故不受火，不受火则能久而不化，故名水石。凡开炉始于秋，终于春，以天气寒凉，铁乃多水，金为水之源，水盛于冬，故铁水以寒而生也。下铁矿时，与坚炭相杂，率以机车从山上飞掷以入炉，其焰烛天，黑浊之气，数十里不散。铁矿既溶，液流至于方池，凝铁一版，取之，以大木杠搅炉。铁水注倾，复成一版。凡十二时，一时须出一版，重可十钧。一时而出二版，是曰双钩，则炉太王，炉将伤，须以白犬血灌炉，乃得无事。铁于五金属水，名曰黑金，乃太阴之精所成。其神女子，相传有林氏妇，以其夫逋欠官铁，于是投身炉中，以出多铁。今开炉者必祠祀，称为涌铁夫人，其事怪甚。凡一炉场，环而居者三百家，司炉者二百余人，掘铁矿者三百余，汲者、烧炭者二百有余，驮者牛二百头，载者舟五十艘。计一铁场之费，不止万金。日得铁二十余版则利赢，八九版则缩，是有命焉。然诸冶惟罗定大塘基炉铁最良，悉是锴铁，光润而柔，可拔之为线，铸镬亦坚好，价贵于诸炉一等。诸炉之铁冶既成，皆输佛山之埠，佛山俗善鼓铸，其为镬，大者曰糖围、{泬犮}七、{泬衣}六、牛一、牛二，小者曰牛三、牛四、牛五，以五为一连曰五口，三为一连曰三口，无耳者曰牛，魁曰清。古时凡铸有耳者不得铸无耳者，铸无耳者不得铸有耳者，兼铸之必讼。铸成时，以黄泥豕油涂之，以轻杖敲之如木者良，以质坚，故其声如木也。故凡佛山之镬贵，坚也，石湾之镬贱，脆也。鬻于江楚间，人能辨之，以其薄而光滑，消湅既精，工法又熟也。诸所铸器，率以佛山为良，陶则以石湾，其炒铁，则以生铁团之入炉，火烧透红，乃出而置砧上，一人钳之，二三人锤之，旁十余童子扇之，童子必唱歌不轰，然后可炼熟而为鍱也。计炒铁之肆有数十，人有数千，一肆数十砧，一砧有十余人，是为小炉。炉有大小，以铁有生有熟也。故夫冶生铁者，大炉之事也。冶熟铁者，小炉之事也。其钢之健贵乎淬，未淬则柔性犹存。流传者，钢已炉锤，方出火即入乎水，大火以柔之，必清水以健之，乃成纯钢。此炼钢之事也。甘泉云：观洪炉之铸金，则知天地之终始矣。在炉而溶，生之也。出炉而结，成之也。溶也者，水始之事也。结也者，土终之事也。其溶也人以为屈，而不知生之始也，信孰大焉。其结也人以为信，而不知成之终也。屈孰大焉，始终相乘，屈信相感，而金未尝变，道之象也。

白话

中文

没有比广东产的铁更好的了。广东境内出产铁矿的山，凡是有黄色的水渗流出来，就知道那里有铁。挖掘下去能得到大块的铁矿石，形状像牛，这就是所谓的“铁牛”。沿着矿脉的走向深入挖掘，就能得到更多的铁。但是，产铁的山必须要有树林才能开炉冶炼，如果山是光秃秃的，即使有很多铁矿也无法利用，这就是适于开采的铁山不容易找到的原因。每一块铁矿石，层层剖开，里面都有树叶状的纹理，纹理的朝向各不相同。山上有什么样的树木，铁矿石里就有什么样的叶状纹理，即使深挖到几十丈深，也都是这样。岭南地区在严寒的时候，树木通常不落叶，只有产铁矿的山上树木会落叶，大概是铁的精华吸摄所致，是五行中金克木的道理。铁矿是有神灵的，炉主必须先洁净自身并举行祭祀，才敢开炉。冶铁炉的形状像个瓶子，炉口朝上，直径大约一丈。炉底厚三丈五尺，高度是底部厚度的一半（约一丈七尺五寸），炉身厚度两尺多。炉身用灰、沙、盐、醋混合筑成，用巨大的藤条捆绑加固，用铁力木、紫荆木支撑，并且依靠山崖来巩固。炉的后部有一个开口，口外是一堵土墙，墙上有两扇门，高五六尺，宽四尺，由四个人操作门扇，一关一开，用来制造风力（鼓风）。炉口和后口都镶嵌着“水石”。水石产自东安县的大绛山，它的质地不坚硬，正因为不坚硬所以不易受高温影响（导热性差或熔点高），不易受火就能耐久不熔化，所以叫做水石。开炉冶炼通常从秋季开始，到春季结束，因为天气寒凉时，铁水流动性更好（原文“铁乃多水”）。按照五行学说，金生水，水在冬季最旺盛，所以铁水（熔融的铁）是在寒冷时产生的。装入铁矿石的时候，与坚硬的木炭混合在一起，通常用绞车或某种机械从山上快速投入炉中。冶炼时火焰照亮天空，黑色的污浊烟气，飘出几十里都不散。铁矿石熔化后，铁液流到方形的池子里，凝结成一块铁板，把它取出来。然后用大木杠搅动炉膛。铁水再次倾泻出来，又凝成一块铁板。总共十二个时辰（一天），每个时辰（两小时）必须出产一块铁板，大约重十钧（三百斤）。如果一个时辰出了两块铁板，叫做“双钩”，这表示炉火太旺，炉子可能会损坏，必须用白狗的血浇灌炉子才能没事。铁在五行中属水，被称为“黑金”，是由太阴的精华形成的。它的神灵是女性。相传有位姓林的妇人，因为她的丈夫拖欠官府的铁课，于是投身熔炉之中，使得炉子能产出更多的铁。现在开炉的人都必须祭祀她，称她为“涌铁夫人”。这件事非常奇特。一个冶铁工场，周围居住着大约三百户人家，负责看炉的有二百多人，挖掘铁矿的有三百多人，挑水和烧炭的有二百多人，运输用的牛有二百头，船只有五十艘。计算一个铁场的费用，不止一万两黄金。每天能产出二十多块铁板就有盈利，如果只产八九块就会亏损，这其中也有运气的成分。然而，各个冶炼场中，只有罗定大塘基炉出产的铁质量最好，都是“锴铁”（精炼的锻铁或低碳钢），光亮润泽而且柔韧，可以拉成铁丝，铸造的铁锅也坚固耐用，价格比其他炉的产品贵一个等级。各家冶炼厂炼成的生铁，都输送到佛山镇。佛山人擅长铸造，他们制造的铁锅，大的叫做“糖围”、“{泬犮}七”、“{泬衣}六”、“牛一”、“牛二”，小的叫做“牛三”、“牛四”、“牛五”。五个一串叫做“五口”，三个一串叫做“三口”。没有锅耳的叫做“牛”锅，最大的叫做“清”锅。古时候，规定铸造有耳锅的作坊不能铸造无耳锅，铸造无耳锅的作坊不能铸造有耳锅，如果同时铸造两种锅，必定会引起诉讼。铁锅铸成时，用黄泥和猪油涂抹，用轻的棍子敲击，声音像敲木头的为好，因为质地坚硬，所以声音沉闷如木。因此，佛山的铁锅价格贵，是因为它坚固；石湾的铁锅价格便宜，是因为它脆。在长江、楚地一带贩卖时，人们能够分辨出来，因为佛山锅薄而光滑，冶炼精纯，工艺又成熟。各种铁制器具，大多以佛山产的为好；陶瓷器则以石湾产的为好。至于“炒铁”（将生铁炼成熟铁或钢），是把生铁团块放入炉中，烧到通红，然后取出放在铁砧上，一个人用铁钳夹住，两三个人用大锤捶打，旁边有十几个童工负责鼓风。童工们必须不停地唱歌（原文“唱歌不轰”可能指唱歌以协调动作或保持节奏，避免喧哗），这样才能把铁炼熟，打成薄片。计算起来，从事炒铁的作坊有几十家，从业人员有几千人，一个作坊有几十个铁砧，一个铁砧旁有十多个人工作，这算是“小炉”。炉子有大小之分，是因为铁有生熟之别。所以，冶炼生铁（铸铁）是“大炉”（高炉）的事情；加工熟铁（锻铁或钢）是“小炉”（精炼炉/锻造）的事情。钢的坚硬可贵之处在于淬火，没有经过淬火的钢，柔韧的性质还存在。流传的淬火方法是：钢材经过炉火加热和锤打后，刚出炉就立刻浸入水中。大火使它变软，必须用清水使它变硬，才能成为纯钢。这就是炼钢的工艺。湛甘泉（湛若水）说：观察巨大的洪炉熔炼金属，就能知道天地的开始与终结了。在炉中熔化，是“生”的过程。出炉后凝固，是“成”的过程。熔化，是（五行中）水开始的阶段。凝固，是（五行中）土终结的阶段。那熔化的状态，人们认为是屈服、柔弱，却不知道那是生命的开始，（其中蕴含的）伸展、发展的力量（信）是多么巨大啊！那凝固的状态，人们认为是伸展、完成，却不知道那是形成的终结，（其中蕴含的）屈服、收敛的力量（屈）是多么巨大啊！开始与终结相互转化，屈服与伸展相互感应，而金属的本质（金）并未改变，这就是“道”的象征啊。

英文

There is no iron better than that from Guangdong. In the mountains of Guangdong where iron is produced, wherever yellow water seeps out, it indicates the presence of iron. Digging there yields large iron ore deposits, shaped like oxen, hence called "iron oxen." Following the vein deeper yields more iron. However, mountains producing iron must have forests to provide fuel for smelting furnaces. If a mountain is bare, even abundant iron ore cannot be utilized, which is why suitable iron mountains are hard to find. Each piece of iron ore, when split layer by layer, reveals leaf-like patterns with varying orientations. Whatever trees grow on the mountain, corresponding leaf patterns appear in the ore, even when dug tens of zhang deep. In Lingnan, during severe cold, trees usually do not shed their leaves, except those on iron-producing mountains. This is likely due to absorption by the essence of iron, reflecting the principle of "Metal overcoming Wood" in the Five Elements theory. Iron ore possesses a spirit; the furnace master must purify himself and perform sacrifices before daring to start the furnace. The furnace is shaped like a bottle, with the mouth on top, about one zhang (approx. 3.3 meters) wide. The base is 3.5 zhang thick, the height is half the base thickness (approx. 1.75 zhang or 5.8 meters), and the body is over 2 chi (approx. 0.6-0.7 meters) thick. It is constructed with a mixture of ash, sand, salt, and vinegar, bound with giant vines, supported by Ironwood (Mesua ferrea) and Bauhinia wood, and reinforced by backing against a cliff. There is an opening at the back of the furnace, leading to an earthen wall with two doors, five or six chi high and four chi wide. Four men operate these doors, opening and closing them to create airflow (bellows effect). Both the furnace mouth and the rear opening are lined with "water stone" (Shuishi). Water stone comes from Dajiang Mountain in Dong'an County. Its texture is not hard; because it's not hard, it doesn't readily absorb heat (poor conductor or high melting point), allowing it to endure high temperatures without melting, hence the name "water stone." Smelting typically begins in autumn and ends in spring because, in cold weather, the molten iron flows better ("iron has more water"). According to Five Elements theory, Metal generates Water, and Water flourishes in winter; thus, molten iron ("iron water") is "born" from the cold. When loading the furnace, iron ore is mixed with hard charcoal and typically rapidly thrown in from above using a winch or machine. The flames illuminate the sky, and black, turbid smoke spreads for tens of li without dispersing. Once the iron ore melts, the liquid iron flows into a square pool and solidifies into an iron slab ("ban"). It is removed, and the furnace is stirred with a large wooden pole. Molten iron pours out again, forming another slab. Over twelve shichen (24 hours), one slab, weighing about ten jun (300 jin or 150 kg), must be produced each shichen (two hours). If two slabs are produced in one shichen ("double hook"), it means the furnace is too hot ("Tai Wang" - too vigorous) and might be damaged. Pouring the blood of a white dog into the furnace is necessary to prevent problems. In the Five Elements, iron corresponds to Water, is called "black metal," and is formed from the essence of Taiyin (Great Yin). Its spirit is female. Legend tells of a Mrs. Lin whose husband defaulted on the official iron tax. She threw herself into the furnace, causing it to produce more iron. Smelters now must offer sacrifices to her, calling her "Lady of Gushing Iron" (Yongtie Furen). This story is considered very strange. A single smelting site supports around three hundred households. There are over two hundred furnace tenders, over three hundred ore miners, over two hundred water carriers and charcoal burners, two hundred oxen for transport, and fifty boats for shipping. The cost of setting up one ironworks exceeds ten thousand taels of gold. Producing over twenty slabs per day yields a profit; producing only eight or nine results in a loss. There is an element of fate involved. However, among all smelters, the iron from the Datangji furnace in Luoding is the best. It is all "kai iron" (锴铁 - likely refined wrought iron or low-carbon steel), lustrous, smooth, and soft (ductile), capable of being drawn into wire, and makes strong, durable woks. Its price is one grade higher than iron from other furnaces. The pig iron produced by various smelters is all transported to the town of Foshan. Foshan people are skilled in casting. Their woks vary in size: the large ones are called "Tangwei," "{泬犮}qi," "{泬衣}liu," "Niu-1," "Niu-2"; the smaller ones are "Niu-3," "Niu-4," "Niu-5." A set of five is called "five mouths," a set of three is "three mouths." Woks without handles (ears) are called "Niu" (Ox) woks; the largest type is called "Qing." In ancient times, workshops specializing in casting woks with handles were forbidden from casting handleless ones, and vice versa; attempting to cast both would inevitably lead to lawsuits (guild regulations). When cast, woks are coated with yellow mud and pig fat. A good wok sounds like wood when tapped lightly with a stick because its dense structure dampens the sound. Therefore, Foshan woks are expensive because they are strong; Shiwan woks are cheap because they are brittle. When sold in the Jiang-Chu region (Yangtze River area), people can distinguish them because Foshan woks are thin, smooth, well-refined, and skillfully crafted. Generally, Foshan is known for the best ironware, while Shiwan is known for the best pottery. As for "stir-frying iron" (refining pig iron into wrought iron or steel), lumps of pig iron are heated red-hot in a furnace, then placed on an anvil. One person holds it with tongs, two or three people hammer it, while ten or more boys operate fans. The boys must sing continuously ("singing without noise/interruption" - possibly for rhythm or coordination) to ensure the iron is properly refined and hammered into sheets ("ye"). There are dozens of these "stir-frying iron" workshops, employing thousands of people. Each workshop has dozens of anvils, with over ten people working at each anvil; this is considered "small furnace" work. Furnaces vary in size because iron exists as raw (pig iron) and refined (wrought iron/steel). Therefore, smelting pig iron is the task of "large furnaces" (blast furnaces), while refining it into wrought iron/steel is the task of "small furnaces" (finery forges/hearths). The strength ("jian" - hardness/toughness) of steel depends crucially on quenching ("cui"). Unquenched steel retains its softness. The traditional method is: after the steel has been heated and hammered, it is immediately plunged from the fire into water. The great fire softens it; clear water strengthens it, creating pure steel. This is the process of steelmaking. Gan Quan (Zhan Ruoshui) said: Observing the great furnace smelting metal, one can understand the beginning and end of Heaven and Earth. Melting in the furnace is the process of "birth" (sheng). Solidifying out of the furnace is the process of "completion" (cheng). Melting is the phase related to Water (beginning in Five Elements). Solidifying is the phase related to Earth (end in Five Elements). The molten state, which people perceive as yielding (qu), is actually the beginning of life; how great is the expansive force (xin) within it! The solid state, which people perceive as expansion/completion (xin), is actually the end of formation; how great is the yielding/contracting force (qu) within it! Beginning and end cycle into each other, yielding and expansion interact, yet the Metal itself (jin) remains unchanged – this is an image of the Dao.

文化解读/分析

本条目详尽记述了清初广东地区铁的勘探、开采、冶炼（包括高炉和精炼炉）、加工（铸锅、炼钢）、贸易及其相关的技术细节、经济规模、社会组织、民间信仰和哲学思考，是研究当时科技史、经济史、社会史和地方文化的重要文献。

1. 先进的冶铁技术：描述了通过观察“黄水”探矿、利用木炭作燃料、建造大型高炉（瓶状、藤条加固、山崖依托）、人力鼓风（墙后扇门）、使用“水石”作耐火材料、控制冶炼节奏（定时出铁、“双钩”预警）、区分生铁与熟铁（大炉与小炉）、“炒铁”精炼工艺（童子唱歌协调？）以及淬火炼钢等一系列相当成熟的冶铁技术环节。特别是罗定“锴铁”的柔韧性（可拔丝）和佛山铸锅的精良（薄、滑、坚固），反映了当时广东冶铁业的高水平。
2. 经济地理与产业分工：清晰地勾勒出广东冶铁业的地理分布和产业链：山区（如罗定）负责开矿和初步冶炼（大炉产出生铁），产品集中输送到交通便利、技术发达的中心城镇佛山进行深加工（小炉精炼、铸造铁器）。佛山作为铁器加工中心，其产品（尤其是铁锅）不仅满足本地需求，还远销长江流域（江楚），形成了区域性的产业集群和明确的专业分工（佛山铁器 vs. 石湾陶瓷；铸有耳锅 vs. 无耳锅的早期行规）。
3. 庞大的产业规模与社会组织：一个冶铁场涉及数百户家庭、上千名工人（矿工、炉工、炭工、水工等）以及大量的运输力（牛、船），投资巨大（“不止万金”），日产量决定盈亏。这揭示了冶铁业作为一种资本密集型和劳动密集型产业，对地方经济和社会结构的深刻影响。
4. 人与自然、技术的互动观念：文本中贯穿着古代的自然观和技术观。如矿石中的“木叶纹”与山上树木对应；产铁山冬季落叶被解释为“金克木”；冶炼季节的选择与“金生水”的五行理论相关；炉火过旺需用“白犬血”禳解。这些观念将自然现象、技术操作与阴阳五行、神灵信仰紧密结合。
5. 民间信仰与行业神：“铁矿有神”、“炉主谨身致祭”以及“涌铁夫人”的传说和祭祀，反映了冶铁这个充满高温、危险和不确定性的行业中普遍存在的敬畏神灵、祈求生产顺利和安全的民间信仰。林氏妇投炉的传说，虽然被作者评为“怪甚”，但作为行业神被祭祀，体现了牺牲奉献（尤其是女性牺牲）以换取成功的悲情叙事在特定行业文化中的形成。
6. 技术与哲理的结合：末尾引述明代大儒湛若水（号甘泉）的观点，将冶铁过程（熔化与凝固）与天地始终、五行生克、屈伸变化等哲学概念相联系，认为金属在形态变化中本质不变，象征着“道”的运行。这体现了中国传统文化中格物致知、从具体技艺中探求普遍哲理的思维方式。
7. 特殊词汇与地方习俗：“铁牛”（大矿块）、“水石”（耐火材料）、“双钩”（出铁过快）、“锴铁”（优质精炼铁）、“糖围”、“{泬犮}七”、“{泬衣}六”、“牛锅”、“清锅”（不同规格铁锅名称）、“五口”、“三口”（销售单位）、“炒铁”（精炼熟铁/钢）等特定术语，以及佛山与石湾的产品优劣比较、早期的行业诉讼规则，都蕴含着丰富的地方知识和行业习俗信息。{泬犮}、{泬衣}这类生僻字的使用，更凸显了地方语言和行业术语的独特性。

关键词

广东, 清代, 屈大均, 铁, 冶铁, 铁矿, 探矿, 高炉, 鼓风, 水石, 耐火材料, 冶炼, 生铁, 熟铁, 钢, 炒铁, 淬火, 佛山, 罗定, 石湾, 铁锅, 铸造, 锴铁, 铁器, 五行, 金克木, 金生水, 民间信仰, 行业神, 涌铁夫人, 湛若水, 甘泉, 经济史, 科技史, 社会史, 产业分工, 铁牛, {泬犮}, {泬衣}, 牛锅