秦汉时制探析

A Discussion on the Time Systems in Qin and Han Dynasties

根据敦煌悬泉置出土的木牍,认定除十六时制外,汉代还曾推行过随季节变化的三十二时制。还结合秦简材料,认为秦代曾存在昼十一夜五、昼夜各自均分的十六时制,并对十二时辰制的行用情况做了梳理,认为十二时辰制在东汉至唐代并未在民间得到较好的推行。最后,依托上述结论对秦汉时期时刻制度发展脉络进行了总结和思考。

Based on the inscribed wooden and bamboo slips excavated from Xuanquan Zhi of Dunhuang, this article believes that besides the 16-hours time system, a 32-hour time system which varied with the seasons was put into practice during the Han Dynasty. Dealing in the light of some bamboo slips of Qin Dynasty, the article deems that the Qin Dynasty once utilized a 16-hour time system whose daytime and night were each equally divided at the ratio 11 to 5. After reviewing the history of the 12-hour time system, it indicates that the 12-hour time system failed to be popularized appropriately until the Tang Dynasty. Relying on the above conclusions, the article sums up and reflects on the evolution of time systems during Qin-Han period.