徐州狮子山西汉楚王墓出土双联玉管功用考析

Analysis of the Function of the Jade Dual-Tube Unearthed from the Tomb of the Vassal King of Chu State in the Western Han Dynasty at Shizi Mountain, Xuzhou

徐州狮子山西汉楚王墓出土一件双联玉管,做工精致、形制独特,推测具有实用功能,由于迄今尚未发现类似器物,长期以来一直不清楚其具体用途。近年来,考古出土毛笔实物较多,笔杆均精细长直,无论长度还是管径,其大小均能装入这只玉管。另外为了便于携带和保护毛笔,与之配套使用的笔套在全国范围内多处墓葬发现,形制有短套、长套、双联套,材质有竹子和木胎漆器,显著特点均是一端封闭,另一端开通,也与玉管特征相同。因此通过与考古出土的毛笔和笔套比对,结合其尺寸和形制分析,这个双联玉管应是放置毛笔的容器—笔套。狮子山西汉墓出土笔套是目前发现的唯一一件汉代双连玉笔套。

Recently,a piece of jade dual-tube was unearthed from the tomb of the vassal King of Chu State in the Western Han dynasty at Shizi Mountain,Xuzhou.In view of its exquisite craftsmanship and unique shape,it is supposed to play a practical role.The function of this object has kept unknown for a long time as no similar ones were found.In recent years,a lot of ink brushes with thin and long stalks have been unearthed in archaeological activities.The jade dual-tube is suitable for them in terms of both the length and the diameter.Caps which were used to protect the brush hair and carry the brush in an easier way have been discovered in many tombs all over China.Those short,long and dual caps are in different shapes,which are made of either bamboo or lacquer with wood body.They all have an open end while the other one is closed,which is the same as the jade dual-tube.Therefore,this jade dual-tube should be a cap to accommodate ink brushes.This object is so far the only discovery of its kind in the Han dynasty.