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古中國的歷史雖然悠久，
但是有關鎖具的文獻記載與實
物保存，卻相當的缺乏。歷代
以來，鎖具的製作工藝，皆由
地位卑微的鎖匠為之，雖不乏
巧手與奇品，但幾乎都名不見
經傳。古鎖是民俗文化的瑰寶，
然而在眾多為人所收藏的物件
中，其地位卑微；因此，少有
收藏家以古鎖為尋覓的對象，
亦鮮有學者以古鎖為研究的主
題。再者，當人們在開啟古代
的箱篋、櫥櫃、或建築物時，
通常是將附在其上的鎖具破壞，
以獲取內部的物品，未曾意識
到這些毫不起眼的古鎖具有保
存與研究的價值，更不會注意
到這些歷經歲月滄桑之破舊物
件所蘊藏的美麗與意義。
Though with a long history,
t h e r e l a t e d d o c u m e n t s a n d
perseverance of ancient Chinese
locks are quite insufficient. Over
the centuries and through dynasties,
the manufacturing technology of
this art-craft was strictly confined to
locksmiths who were base in their
social status; so even there were
a good number of very delicate
ones been created, the authors were
mostly not acknowledgeable because
their names were never mentioned.
Ancient Chinese locks are treasures
of the Chinese civil culture, but for
their hardly noticeable nature, very
few curio collectors set their eyes
on locks, and very few scholars
focused their study on locks. When
one was trying to open treasure
boxes, closets, or buildings, he
normally destroyed the locks to get
the items inside. He had no sense
that these shaggy locks have the
value of preservation and research.
He realized nothing about the beauty
and historical meaning of these
rusted metal pieces.
‧箱子與掛鎖
Chest and padlock