《世本》版本流变略论

Simple Discussion on the Versions of The Origin of the World

《世本》一书的版本流变大体分为两个阶段,即诸侯、大夫的家谱记载以至小史汇编成专书阶段和该书的整理、注释及散佚阶段。该书所记录的时代至西周时期,最迟至战国时期,不能据后人增窜的零星内容而推迟其成书时代,且其散佚自南朝开始,至宋代并未完全亡佚,也不能完全依靠目录而断定古籍的流传与存亡。

There are two phases of versions of The Origin of the World ： the phase of formation by pedigree recording of dukes and assembling of mandarins and the phase of collecting, noting and disappearing. The period recorded in the book lasted till the West Zhou Dynasty, or at most till the Warring States. We should not postpone it according to fragments added by later generations. The book began to disappear since the Southern Dynasties, but it didn＇t disappear completely till Song Dynasty. We should not decide its spread and disappearanceonly judging by the contents.