作册般铜鼋所记史事的性质

Nature of the Historical Record on the “Zuo Ce Ban作册般” Inscribed Bronze Yuan Soft-thelled Turtle

作册般铜鼋是一件珍贵的商代末期青铜器。其铭文所记史事和器物造型所展现的史实是射礼,如果把它与田猎挂钩,则有许多疑窦；如果把它与射礼相联系,则颇能印证文献和西周金文的有关记载。可以说西周辟雍大池的水上射礼很有可能渊源于商代晚期的洹水水上射礼。周礼“三番射”中的某些仪节和必射四矢之寓意,在商代晚期就已经存在。射鱼也是当时常见的一种射礼,射鼋则是射鱼的一项重要射礼内容。本文还对鼋铭作了考释,并认定该器是铭功的庸器、再现商王射艺的实物模型。铜鼋的铭文与造型构思所反映的史事是商代末期王在洹水进行的一次水上射礼活动。

A bronze tortoise with arrows on its back, Zuoceban, is a precious bronze object of the late Shang Dynasty. The shaps and the inscription on it indicate that the special object might be an instrument of shooting ceremony, rather than hunting ceremony. This object coincides with the record in ancient text and the Western Zhou bronze inscriptions. It seems that the shooting ceremony in the Piyong pool in the Westem Zhou Dynasty may originate from the shooting ceremony on the Huan River in the Shang Dynasty. Sanfanshe and bishesishi rituals may have emerged in the late Shang Dynasty. Shooing fish was a common part of the shooting ceremony, and it might include shooting tortoise. Based on the interpretation and the inscriptions on the bronze tortoise, this object is a realistic art for memorializing successful shooting of the Shang King in the shooting ceremony on the Huan River.