Written & Photos by (作者, 图片来源): Vincent R. Vinci 魏文深
If you were to cross the Yongjiang Bridge from Laowaitan and make your way towards Book City, you might notice an old stone building with lions guarding its entrance sitting quietly as people go about their days, passing by without glimpsing at these old guards. Even though these two fellows stand menacingly at the entrance, forbidding those from entering, the open doors and a gander at what’s inside might convince one otherwise. After procuring a ticket and going through the doors, there’s a whole new world inside the gray plain exterior, a giant anchor sits near the entrance, and models of ancient Chinese seafaring vessels welcome visitors to the vast complex of maroon red and gold stages, hallways, shrines, and more that make up the Qing’an Guild Hall.
The guild hall, which during the Qing Dynasty served as a gathering place for seafaring merchants to hold celebrations and meetings, was erected in 1853 with funding from 9 shipping merchants. The guild hall not only served as a meeting place but also as a shrine to Muzu, the Goddess of the Sea. Legend has it that when the stone columns for the foundation of the hall were being shipped to Ningbo, a strong storm struck the fleet of ships and sunk all but the vessel carrying the columns made it through. Thus, upon hearing the story, the merchants thanked Muzu and dedicated the hall to her, building the shrine and an extra stage for sacrificial purposes.
Today the guild hall remains as a testament to the Ningbo shipping community and as a museum for Chinese maritime history. Within the hallways are small corridors with countless models of ancient Chinese ships, from antiquity leading up to the era of steam power. Although its sometimes easy to miss, the Qing’an Guild Hall is a wonderful historic site to visit and learn about old Ningbo and the traditions of Chinese maritime trade.
如果你穿过甬江大桥，一路往书城走去，你或许会留意到一座古老的石砌建筑物，一对石狮子静静地守在门口。人们早出晚归，与这对石狮子擦肩而过，却吝啬到不愿给予一个眼神。虽然这两个家伙龇牙怒目地蹲守在门口，禁止他人入内，但是从敞开的入口向内里瞥一眼或许会勾起你一探究竟的欲望。买票进门以后，灰墙内又是另一番景象，靠近入口处有一个巨大的锚，随后映入眼帘的是中国古代航海船只模型、朱金木雕的戏台、走廊、大殿等等。
庆安会馆由9个船商捐资创建，落成于清咸丰三年（1853年），既是祭祀天后妈祖的殿堂，又是舶商航工娱乐聚会的场所。据说会馆内的四根龙凤石柱是特地请福建兴化的名师巧匠雕凿，在运至浙江洋面时，忽遇飓风，涌急浪高，海洋上不少帆船被狂风刮翻，船沉人溺，而两艘装有石柱的木船在惊涛骇浪之中因两舷挂装石柱，重力均衡，船体稳定，竟乘风破浪，得以安然无恙。平安到达甬江道头，舶商、船工认为是天后圣母佑灵，于是在会馆门前，搭起戏台，演戏三天，如敬神灵。
时至今日，庆安会馆是宁波“海上丝绸之路”重要的文化遗存，也是中国海事民俗博物馆。廊道里陈列着数不胜数的中国古代船舶模型，涵盖了从远古到蒸汽动力时代的各类船舶。虽然庆安会馆经常被我们熟视无睹，但它作为昔日宁波港与海外各国通商，贸易和友好往来的历史见证，非常值得我们去参观了解。
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Bio
Vincent R. Vinci is the Senior English Editor of Ningbo Focus. Having lived, studied, and worked in China on and off for the past 3 years or so, he has dedicated his time in the country to exploring its history, culture, food, and drink and sharing it with whoever wants to read about it.
魏文深是《宁波聚焦》杂志的资深英文编辑。在中国生活、学习和工作的三年期间，他花费大量时间探索这个国家的历史、文化、美酒、佳肴，并把它们分享给读者们。