我国西南地区青铜戈的研究

BRONZE DAGGER-AXES (GE) IN SOUTHWEST CHINA

我国西南地区古代民族所使用的青铜武器,除了剑以外,戈是较普遍的一种,其使用历史甚至比剑更长,大约是从殷代后期至西汉中期。本文拟通过对西南地区出土的青铜戈的研究,进一步探索古代居住于这一地区的各民族集团之间的关系以及他们和中原民族悠久的历史渊源。在以下的讨论中,仍然按照《我国西南地区青铜剑的研究》一文的体例,将青铜戈分成巴蜀地区和'西南夷'地区两大系统,每一系统之下,再按不同类型分别加以叙述。

Bronze swords and dagger-axes (ge) different in shape from those found in the central plain area were used by ancient tribes in southwest China. As for the bronze sword, I have described it on my article appeared in No. 2, 1977 issue of Kaogo Xuebao. This article on the bronze dagger-axe may be regarded as its sequel in the same style of writing.Bronze dagger-axes unearthed in Sichuan province are classified as Type A, those found in the Dianchi (滇池) area in Yunnan province as Type B and those in the Erhai (洱海)area as Type C. In the western Sichuan plateau and Guizhou province only odd pieces of such weapons are discovered which either belong to Type A or Type B.Bronze dagger-axes were used by many tribes in southwest China for a long time, probably between the late Yin dynasty and the middle Western Han dynasty. Therefore, a great many types of them existed and varied in shape from time to time. It is extremely difficult to get everything clear about all the tribes who once used these bronze daer-axes and the tribal relations among different groups.Preliminary results, however, have been gained by analyzing and studying these weapons. Like the swords found in the same area, the dagger-axes unearthed in Sichuan province have their origin in'the central plain. They are almost the same as those unearthed from Western Zhou dynasty tombs in the upper reaches of the Huanghe River (for example, in present-day Liugtai county in Gansu province). It is quite possible that these dagger-axes are brought there by the Di (氐) tribe when they moved southward from southern Gansu province.But in the Dianchi area in Yunnan province, it is rather late when such bronze weapons were used. The upper limit of them doesn't go beyond the Spring and Autumn period. They are similar to those of Type A in appearance. It is believed that they are introduced into the Dianchi area from Sichuan and then changed a little bit in their form. Of the few bronze dagger-axes found in the Erhai area, some are obviously influenced by those the Dianchi area. As for some individual dagger-axe with a special feature, maybe it has something to do with the tribes living in Xi and Kunming.