永顺老司城祖师殿铁钟铭文考

Collation of the Inscriptions on the Iron Bell in the Patriarch Temple of Laosicheng in Yongshun County

明嘉靖十年,永顺土司彭宗舜与致仕两代土司携众亲信等在祖师殿铸造铁钟一口,以表达祈福及忠君报国之思。本文从史料入手,对铸造于铁钟之上的一干人等和安置地点做出考释,并就铸钟目的进行剖析。认为这一时期永顺土司四世同堂,为历代最为昌盛之际,为回报朝廷的恩惠,祈愿官运长久,所辖区域永远巩固,所附民众健康安宁、财物富足,而铸此铁钟。

In the tenth reign year of Ming Emperor Jiajing,Chieftain Peng Zongshun and two retired chieftains of Yongshun,together with trusted followers,had one iron bell cast in the Patriarch Temple to pray for blessings and to show their intention of being loyal to the emperor and serving the country.This paper studies historical documents,explores the persons mentioned in the inscriptions on the iron bell and the locality of the bell,and analyzes the purpose of having the bell cast.It believes that the chieftain in Yongshun,with four generations living under the same roof,should be the most prosperous one in the history of local chieftains.He had the iron bell cast to pay back the favor of the central court and to pray for lasting official career,permanent solidity of his domain,and health,peace and wealth for the people in his domain.