卜辞“步”字别解

Another View on bu in the Oracle Bone Inscriptions

卜辞"步指车行"说断不可从,"步为辇行"之说亦非确诂。卜辞所谓"王步"、"王步自某"确有徒步义应无疑问,只不过徒步者并不一定必是王,当是指随车出行的徒众。卜辞之"步"应与商代军制单位有关。凡言某步、步于某或是意在与单骑或乘舟的出行形式相区别。

Abstract：＂The king bu＂, ＂The king bu at some place＂, or ＂The king bu at some place on some day＂ are common items in the oracle bone inscriptions of campaigning and hunting. Scholars have different views about the meaning of ＂bu＂. Some argue that in the oracle bone inscriptions, ＂zhu＂ means chasing on foot, while ＂bu＂ means chasing wild beasts.＂ Others assert that ＂bu＂ means going by carriage, or going by horse, or going by man- drawn car- riage. However, the author thinks that explaining ＂bu＂ as going by carriage is far from the mark, and as going by man - drawn carriage is inaccurate either. He argues that ＂The king bu＂, or ＂the king bu from some place＂ indeed has a meaning of going on foot. But the walker has no need to be the king, but rather his servants. Bu must have a connection with the military system of Shang dynasty. Emphasize that somebody ＂bu＂ or ＂bu＂ at some place, possibly in order to distinguish it from other trip modes such as riding alone or going by boat.