周代牲体礼考论

About Rites of Shengti During the Zhou Dynasty

牲体礼是指有关牺牲的割解、陈载以及骨体使用的礼规。周代礼仪中,对牺牲有房脀、豚解、体解、骨折等割解方式,不同部位的骨体有尊卑之别,且有不同的升鼎、载俎之法。周人重俎,牲体的使用方式具有别吉凶、人鬼、尊卑、贵贱等礼制意义。此外,牲体礼也体现了周礼尚文的特征,蕴涵着深刻的文化意义。在周代宗法社会以"亲亲"、"尊尊"纲纪天下的文化背景下,祭祀、燕飨等礼仪中的俎实有助于"合同、建德",增强同姓宗亲以及异姓亲戚之间的亲合力。儒家认为,祭祀之俎可"见政事之均",有德之君藉祭祀班胙于下,为"惠下之道",是仁政的体现。

Rites of Shengti (the way to slaughter, display and eat sacrifice according to aristocrats' status or power) not only had the significance of distinguishing from the auspicious and the inauspicious, the honorable and the humble, the senior and the junior, but also symbolized an idea that strengthen the cohesion of ethics of patriarchal society expounded and propagated by governors of the Zhou dynasty on the base of hierarchy. Moreover, it also represented the brilliant idea of administration.