殷墟时期牛的相关问题探讨

Cattle of the Yin Ruins Period and Their Related Problems

殷墟牛的主体是黄牛,水牛尚未家养。从甲骨文献和考古发掘可知,殷墟时期,对牛的需求主要表现为农耕、拉车、肉食、祭祀、骨骼(包括牛肩胛骨占卜及下肢骨制作骨器等)甚至牛皮、牛筋、牛角等。如此众多的环节,使得牛在殷墟时期从饲养、使用、乃至宰杀后分配,在当时应该有相应的社会群体或组织机构专门从事这些事务。探讨殷墟时期牛的饲养、使用乃至牛在殷墟时期被赋于的神圣职能,对于了解殷墟时期的农牧业、手工业、上层阶级的精神生活等都会起到至关重要的作用。

The word ＂Yin Ruins cattle＂ refers to the common ox for the buffalo had not been domesticated at that time. As known from oracle-bone inscriptions and archaeologically-excavated data, the request for cattle in the Yin Ruins Period was embodied in agricultural cultivation, vehicle drawing, meat eating and animal sacrifice, and ox bone （ including scapulas for divination and lower limbbones for implements making）, hide, tendon and horn utilization. Numerous operations in breeding, utilization, slaughter and allotment led to the formation of correspondent social groups or organizations engaged in various special labors. Researches on cattle husbandry, utilization and even sacred function in the Yin Ruins Period will play an extremely important role in the understanding of agriculture, husbandry, handicraft and upper-class society＇ s spiritual life in those times.