夏代文字求证——二里头文化陶文考

Identification of Writing in the Xia Period:A Study of Pottery Glyphs in the Erlitou Culture

Was writing used in the Xia period? This problem has long been discussed in academic circles. As a site of the Xia period, the Erlitou remains especially draw attention from scholars as to the traces of Xia writing. The book Yanshi Erlitou publishes some “incised signs”, which can be identified as the forerunners of the later Chinese characters “shi” (矢 arrow), “jing” (井 well), “min” (皿 vessel),“meng” (盟), “feng”(丰 plenty), “dao” (道), “xing” (行 go), “bian” (鞭), “lai” (来 come), etc. They show a close genetic relationship with Yinxu oracle-bone inscriptions. These pottery glyphs come from the third and fourth phases of Erlitou culture and must be remains of Xia writing. Their structural analysis suggests that they do not belong to the earliest Chinese writing, which should be sought after in still earlier archaeological cultures.

Was writing used in the Xia period?This problem has long been discussed in academic circles.As a site of the Xia period,the Erlitou remains especially draw attention from scholars as to the traces of Xia writing.The book Yanshi Erlitou publishes some'incised signs',which can be identified as the forerunners of the later Chinese characters'shi'(矢 arrow),'jng'(井 well),'min'(皿 vessel), 'meng'(盟),'feng'(丰 plenty),'dao'(道),'xing'(行 go),'bian'(鞭),'lai'(来 come),etc.They show a close genetic relationship with Yinxu oracle-bone inscriptions.These pottery glyphs come from the third and fourth phases of Erlitou culture and must be remains of Xia writing.Their structural analysis suggests that they do not belong to the earliest Chinese writing,which should be sought after in still earlier archaeological cultures.