也谈弓形器的形制及相关问题

Also on the Typology of the Bow-shaped Objects and Relevant Issues

弓形器是商周时期用于挂缰的"挂缰钩",有窄背和宽背两种。窄背类弓形器部分出自人骨腰部,在蒙古鹿石中相类的器物均挂于腰间并与弓及弓袋共出,因此其应挂在腰带上。车马坑中多放置宽背类弓形器并多置于车厢内,在鹿石中还见将辔系于车厢上的马车形象,因此一部分宽背类弓形器应绑缚在车厢前部用以挂辔。

The ＂bow-shaped objects＂ emerged in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties of China,which were used as ＂rein holders＂ for the charioteers or riders to free their hands,could be classified into two types： the narrow-backed ones and the wide-backed ones.Observed from the situations that some of the narrowbacked ones were found at the waists of the human skeletons,the similar objects in the images of the deer stones in Mongolia are all on the waists of human figures and they were coexisting with bows and bow cases,they are suggested to be tied to or hung on the waist belts.On the other hand,seen from the facts that most of the wide-backed bow-shaped objects were found in the chariot boxes and horse pits,and that on the deer stones found in Mongolia and the Central Asia, chariot images have been seen with reins tied to the chariot boxes,at least a part of the wide-backed bow-shaped objects were tied to the front edge of the chariot boxes for holding reins.