“包茅”补释与民族文化

Supplementary Interpretation of "Baomao"

根据《本草纲目》、《禹贡锥指》等典籍文献,《左传.僖公四年.齐桓公伐楚》文中之"包茅",因楚地所产有香味,所以成为贡品,而且在华夏民族文化中多有反映。此"包茅"应解释为:包茅:扎成捆,包装了的菁茅。菁茅,一种有香味、产于楚地的茅草。各地茅草很多,独楚产之有香味,所以作为对天子的贡品,用作祭神时渗酒之物。

According to the literature works such as Compendium of Materia Medica, and Yu Gong Zhui Zhi, the word baomao in the works of Zuo Chuan, Xi Gong Si Nian, Ji Hen Gong Fa Chu should be interpreted as a bundle of straws, which had a fragrant smell and was produced in State of Chu. Although there were different kinds of straw in different places, the one grown in Chu had a special fragrant smell. Therefore it was often sent to the emperor in the court and to put in the wine to worship the god.