中国古代斧钺制度的初步研究.docxVIP

中国古代斧钺制度的初步研究 钱耀鹏 【英文标题】A Preliminary Study of the Bat tl e-Axes Inst it ution in Ancient China. In ancient China, there were well-developed battle-axes and a strict institution of their use, which became a clear reflection of her originality among the world civilizations of aritiquity. These weapons not only played the role of morphologically deriving the character Z/Wang 王 、but also deeply went into the ritual of political life. Systematic researches on related archaeological data from prehistoric times, the Shang and Zhou periods and later his to rical ages and comparative studies of them with literal records and ethnographical evidence have forcefully confirmed the value of these implements in ancient social and political life. Their mounting the historical stage of ancient politics was primarily due to their special relationship with ancient warfare. Especially in prehistoric wars, battle-axes were the most effective offensive wcapons, the users of which often played a decisive role in close combats, and these weapons were thus taken as attributes of the rulei? s power and dignity. Jade and other precious stone battle-axes in the Longshan period and bronze ones in the Shang and Zhou periods were morphologically multiple and complex. According to literal records, they can be divided into the types of common battle-axe, yue, qi, and peculiarshaped battle-axe. The former three may have been named in the light of their size and the proportion of their length to their width, with the wider called yuc and the Ion ger, qi. From the Neo lit hie Age, battie-axes used as funeral objects showed the tendency that the 1 ater the time, the less the tombs with battle axes, and these grave goods were incrcasingly concentrated in a small number of large-and medium-sized tombs, especially in male burials. Textual records and archaeological discoveries at home and abroad evidence that battie-axes not only symbolized monarchical power, but also led to the establishment of their us