古老的鑲滿錢幣的樹木重新出現在英國景觀中

英國各地，尤其是湖區和約克郡，都出現了鑲嵌著硬幣的神秘樹。這項傳統可以追溯到 1700 年代，當時人們相信將硬幣推入樹上可以帶來健康。在現代，這一傳統重新出現，可能是由於模仿，而不是對其有效性的真正信念。

Ancient Ritual Re-Emerges: Coin-Studded Trees Dot the British Landscape

古代儀式重新出現：英國風景中佈滿硬幣的樹木

In an intriguing convergence of culture and nature, a mysterious phenomenon has captured the attention of Britons: the resurgence of coin-studded trees. These arboreal curiosities, adorned with an array of coins pressed into their bark, have emerged as enigmatic reminders of a long-standing tradition with deep historical and symbolic roots.

在文化與自然的有趣融合中，一種神秘的現象引起了英國人的注意：鑲滿硬幣的樹的復興。這些樹棲珍品的樹皮上壓有一系列硬幣，它們的出現成為人們對具有深厚歷史和象徵根源的悠久傳統的神秘提醒。

A Coastal Discovery

沿海發現

The enigmatic trees first gained national prominence in 2011, when a series of them were discovered around the seaside town of Portmeirion, Wales. The Italianate village, designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, became the unlikely backdrop for these unusual botanical displays. Staff at the attraction were perplexed by the sheer number of coins embedded in the trees, particularly the prevalence of two-pence pieces.

這些神秘的樹木於 2011 年首次引起全國關注，當時在威爾斯海濱小鎮波特梅里恩周圍發現了一系列此類樹木。由克拉夫·威廉斯-埃利斯爵士設計的意大利風格村莊，成為了這些不尋常的植物展示的意想不到的背景。景點的工作人員對嵌入樹上的硬幣數量之多感到困惑，尤其是兩便士硬幣的盛行。

Origins in Antiquity

古代的起源

While the recent attention has cast a spotlight on the coin-studded trees, their history extends far beyond contemporary observations. Meurig Jones, estate manager at Portmeirion, delved into the annals of time and uncovered the ancient origins of this peculiar practice. "I did some detective work," Jones told the BBC, "and discovered that trees were sometimes used as 'wishing trees.'"

雖然最近人們的注意力集中在這些鑲滿硬幣的樹上，但它們的歷史遠遠超出了當代的觀察範圍。波特梅里恩 (Portmeirion) 的莊園經理莫里格瓊斯 (Meurig Jones) 深入研究了時間史冊，揭示了這種奇特做法的古老起源。瓊斯告訴英國廣播公司：“我做了一些偵探工作，發現樹木有時被用作‘許願樹’。”

"In Britain, it dates back to the 1700s," Jones revealed. "There is one tree in Scotland somewhere which apparently has a florin [an old gold coin] stuck into it."

「在英國，它可以追溯到 1700 年代，」瓊斯透露。 “蘇格蘭某處有一棵樹，上面顯然粘著一枚弗羅林（一枚舊金幣）。”

A Healing Ritual

治癒儀式

The tradition of inserting coins into trees, likely rooted in pagan beliefs, is believed to have been associated with the pursuit of good health. According to ancient lore, individuals suffering from illness believed that driving a coin into a tree would transfer their ailment to the inanimate object. Conversely, it was believed that healthy individuals who removed a coin from a tree would inherit the illness of its previous benefactor.

在樹上插硬幣的傳統可能源自於異教信仰，據信與追求健康有關。根據古代傳說，患有疾病的人相信，將一枚硬幣撞到樹上會將他們的疾病轉移到無生命的物體上。相反，人們相信，從樹上摘下一枚硬幣的健康人會繼承其前任恩人的疾病。

Symbology and Representation

符號學和表示法

Beyond their historical connection to healing practices, trees have been revered as universal symbols of peace, hope, and vitality. In the Netherlands, the wish tree is a cherished wedding tradition wherein guests pen their well wishes for the bride and groom on slips of paper and adorn the tree with their sentiments. The integration of wish trees in the arts is also notable, particularly in the works of Yoko Ono, who has explored their significance since 1981.

除了與治療實踐的歷史聯繫之外，樹木也被尊為和平、希望和活力的普遍象徵。在荷蘭，許願樹是一種珍貴的婚禮傳統，客人們將對新娘和新郎的美好祝福寫在紙條上，並用他們的情感裝飾這棵樹。許願樹在藝術中的融入也值得注意，特別是在小野洋子的作品中，他自 1981 年以來一直在探索許願樹的重要性。

Modern Manifestations

現代表現

While ancient traditions provide the foundation for the practice, the resurgence of coin-studded trees in recent decades has taken on a more imitative character, according to Ceri Houlbrook, a folklore archaeologist who has extensively studied the phenomenon. "In the 18th and 19th centuries, the custom of coin insertion was observed for folk-remedial purposes; depositors were hoping for cures to certain ailments through the process of 'contagious transfer,'" Houlbrook explained.

廣泛研究這一現象的民俗考古學家塞里·霍爾布魯克(Ceri Houlbrook) 表示，雖然古老的傳統為這種做法提供了基礎，但近幾十年來，鑲滿硬幣的樹的複興已呈現出更具模仿性的特徵。 「在 18 世紀和 19 世紀，人們觀察到插入硬幣的習俗是出於民間治療目的；儲戶希望透過『傳染性轉移』的過程來治癒某些疾病，」霍爾布魯克解釋道。

"However, the custom has experienced a recent resurgence, with many coin-trees dating to the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. The modern-day depositors of coins do not cite folk-remedies as the purpose behind their participation; instead, the majority refer to imitation as the primary motivating factor. Simply put, people insert coins into trees because they have witnessed other people doing so."

「然而，這種習俗最近又重新流行起來，許多錢幣樹的歷史可以追溯到 1990 年代、2000 年代和 2010 年代。現代的錢幣儲戶並沒有將民間療法作為他們參與的目的；相反，大多數將模仿視為主要動機。簡單地說，人們將硬幣插入樹中，因為他們目睹了其他人這樣做。”

A Question of Aesthetics

美學問題

The aesthetic and ecological implications of coin-studded trees have drawn mixed reactions. While some perceive them as whimsical and charming, others view them as intrusive and a form of litter in natural settings. The durability of metal, however, ensures that many of these arboreal displays will endure for generations to come.

鑲滿硬幣的樹木的美學和生態意義引起了不同的反應。雖然有些人認為它們異想天開、迷人，但有些人則認為它們具有侵入性，是自然環境中的一種垃圾。然而，金屬的耐用性確保了許多這些樹棲展示品能夠經久不衰。

Notable Examples

著名的例子

Among the most renowned coin trees in Britain is the one at High Force, a waterfall on the River Tees near Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. Another noteworthy specimen is the oak tree on Isle Maree in Loch Maree, Gairloch, in the Highlands, which was immortalized by a visit from Queen Victoria in 1877. Moreover, some pubs, such as the Punch Bowl in Askham, Cumbria, feature old wooden beams adorned with clusters of coins embedded in their weathered surfaces.

英國最著名的錢幣樹之一是位於達勒姆郡米德爾頓因蒂斯代爾附近蒂斯河上的 High Force 瀑布。另一個值得注意的標本是高地蓋爾洛赫馬里湖馬裡島上的橡樹，它因1877 年維多利亞女王的到訪而永垂不朽。此外，一些酒吧，例如坎布里亞郡阿斯卡姆的Punch Bowl ，以古老的木製酒吧為特色。橫樑的風化表面上鑲嵌著一簇簇硬幣。

Conclusion

結論

The emergence of coin-studded trees in the British landscape serves as a tangible reminder of the enduring power of tradition and the interconnectedness between nature and human beliefs. Whether viewed as ritualistic curiosities or aesthetic anomalies, these arboreal oddities invite contemplation on the enduring influence of cultural practices and the ephemeral nature of human interactions with the natural world.

英國景觀中鑲滿硬幣的樹木的出現切實地提醒人們傳統的持久力量以及自然與人類信仰之間的相互聯繫。無論是被視為儀式性的好奇心還是美學異常，這些樹棲的奇怪現像都引發了人們對文化習俗的持久影響以及人類與自然世界互動的短暫性的思考。