古老的镶满钱币的树木重新出现在英国景观中

英国各地，尤其是湖区和约克郡，都出现了镶嵌着硬币的神秘树。这一传统可以追溯到 1700 年代，当时人们相信将硬币推入树上可以带来健康。在现代，这一传统重新出现，可能是由于模仿，而不是对其有效性的真正信仰。

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

古代仪式重新出现：英国风景中布满硬币的树木

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.

在文化与自然的有趣融合中，一种神秘的现象引起了英国人的注意：镶满硬币的树的复兴。这些树栖珍品的树皮上压有一系列硬币，它们的出现成为人们对具有深厚历史和象征根源的悠久传统的神秘提醒。

A Coastal Discovery

沿海发现

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.

这些神秘的树木于 2011 年首次引起全国关注，当时在威尔士海滨小镇波特梅里恩周围发现了一系列此类树木。由克拉夫·威廉姆斯-埃利斯爵士设计的意大利风格村庄，成为了这些不寻常的植物展示的意想不到的背景。景点的工作人员对嵌入树上的硬币数量之多感到困惑，尤其是两便士硬币的盛行。

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.'"

虽然最近人们的注意力集中在这些镶满硬币的树上，但它们的历史远远超出了当代的观察范围。波特梅里恩 (Portmeirion) 的庄园经理莫里格·琼斯 (Meurig Jones) 深入研究了时间史册，揭示了这种奇特做法的古老起源。琼斯告诉英国广播公司：“我做了一些侦探工作，发现树木有时被用作‘许愿树’。”

"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."

“在英国，它可以追溯到 1700 年代，”琼斯透露。 “苏格兰某处有一棵树，上面显然粘着一枚弗罗林（一枚旧金币）。”

A Healing Ritual

治愈仪式

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.

在树上插硬币的传统可能源于异教信仰，据信与追求健康有关。根据古代传说，患有疾病的人相信，将一枚硬币撞到树上会将他们的疾病转移到无生命的物体上。相反，人们相信，从树上摘下一枚硬币的健康人会继承其前任恩人的疾病。

Symbology and Representation

符号学和表示法

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.

除了与治疗实践的历史联系之外，树木还被尊为和平、希望和活力的普遍象征。在荷兰，许愿树是一种珍贵的婚礼传统，客人们将对新娘和新郎的美好祝愿写在纸条上，并用他们的情感装饰这棵树。许愿树在艺术中的融入也值得注意，特别是在小野洋子的作品中，他自 1981 年以来一直在探索许愿树的重要性。

Modern Manifestations

现代表现

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.

广泛研究这一现象的民俗考古学家塞里·霍尔布鲁克 (Ceri Houlbrook) 表示，虽然古老的传统为这种做法提供了基础，但近几十年来，镶满硬币的树的复兴已呈现出更具模仿性的特征。 “在 18 世纪和 19 世纪，人们观察到插入硬币的习俗是出于民间治疗目的；储户希望通过‘传染性转移’的过程来治愈某些疾病，”霍尔布鲁克解释道。

"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，这种习俗最近又重新流行起来，许多钱币树的历史可以追溯到 1990 年代、2000 年代和 2010 年代。现代的钱币储户并没有将民间疗法作为他们参与的目的；相反，大多数将模仿视为主要动机。简单地说，人们将硬币插入树中，因为他们目睹了其他人这样做。”

A Question of Aesthetics

美学问题

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.

镶满钱币的树木的美学和生态意义引起了不同的反应。虽然有些人认为它们异想天开、迷人，但另一些人则认为它们具有侵入性，是自然环境中的一种垃圾。然而，金属的耐用性确保了许多这些树栖展示品能够经久不衰。

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.

英国最著名的钱币树之一是位于达勒姆郡米德尔顿因蒂斯代尔附近蒂斯河上的 High Force 瀑布。另一个值得注意的标本是高地盖尔洛赫马里湖马里岛上的橡树，它因 1877 年维多利亚女王的到访而永垂不朽。此外，一些酒吧，例如坎布里亚郡阿斯卡姆的 Punch Bowl，以古老的木制酒吧为特色。横梁的风化表面上镶嵌着一簇簇硬币。

Conclusion

结论

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.

英国景观中镶满硬币的树木的出现切实地提醒人们传统的持久力量以及自然与人类信仰之间的相互联系。无论是被视为仪式性的好奇心还是审美异常，这些树栖的奇怪现象都引发了人们对文化习俗的持久影响以及人类与自然世界互动的短暂性的思考。