秦司法文书“当腾腾”用语释义

Interpreting "Dang-teng-teng" in the Legal Documents of Qin Dynasty

湖北云梦睡虎地秦简、湖南龙山里耶秦简木牍司法文书中出现的"当腾腾"用语,学界以往的理解均未达诂。本文从秦法律制度、公文要素及文字训诂三方面考察,指出"当腾腾"应做"当传(zhuàn)传(chuán)"理解。它是秦过县长途公文传送中,公文发文方告知接收方文书传送方式的交代语,意思说文书由驿传传送;"当腾腾"所反映的公文驿传传送方式,在一定条件下,秦人又表述为"以次传"、"以县次传"。

In the existing literature, no proper interpretation has been given to the phrase 'Dang-teng-teng' in the legal documents of Qin Dynasty wooden slips unearthed at Shuihudi of Yunmeng, Hubei Province and Liye of Longshan, Hunan Province. Through the study of the legal system of Qin Dynasty, the key elements of official documents and word character glossing, this paper provides a new interpretation to this phrase, which should be understand as 'Dang-zhuan-chuan'. It is a phrase used by the issuing party of the legal documents to tell the reception party the means of cross-county long-distance delivery of the documents, meaning delivery by post. The phrase 'Dang-teng-teng' reflected the means of delivery of official documents. It was also expressed as 'delivery posthouse by posthouse' or 'delivery county by county' under some circumstances.