也说“耦”与“耦耕”

A Further Discussion of "Ou" and "Pair Ploughing"

"耦"是古代的一种农具,分为直尖和斜尖两种,它分别适用于不同质地的土壤耕作而采取相应的耕作方式。"耦耕"就是"持耦而耕",是西周时期盛行的耕作方式。它主要分为两种方式,即"二人并耕"式和"人拉犁耕"式,但不论采取哪种形式,都是根据劳动环境、耕作对象和劳动者双方的协作和熟练程度来决定的。它是介于锄耕和牛耕之间的重要耕作形式,是由当时生产力发展水平所决定的,它可以随着农业技术发展和生产力提高而出现不同的形式。

＂Ou＂ was one of ancient farm implements which included vertically sharp and obliquely sharp ones and was used for the tillage of different texture of soil. ＂Pair ploughing＂ means ＂ploughing by using ou＂ and was a farming method prevailing in Western Zhou Dynasty. It had two main ways： ＂two tillers ploughing together using ou＂, and ＂ploughing by using man-pulled ou＂. Each way was used according to the labour conditions, farming subjects, the two tillers＇ cooperation and proficiency. ＂Pair ploughing＂ was an important farming method between hoe ploughing and cattle ploughing determined by the development of the existing productive forces and it could take different forms with the development of the agrotechniques and the improvement of the productive forces.