西垂盐井源起新考

Origins of Salt Wells in Xichui

西垂盐井文化是秦早期文化的重要组成部分。西垂盐井的源起长期停留在民间神话传说层面,尚未引起学界的关注。本文整理了西垂(今甘肃省礼县)一带关于盐井源起的神话传说,并对其进行甄别和探究后认为,最早发现西垂盐井的应是秦早期在此牧马的秦人先民。

Salt well culture of Xichui was an important element in the culture of early Qin. The origins of salt wells which have long been kept in folk myths and legends, did not attract scholars＇ attention. This article collects and examines the myths and legends on the origins of salt wells in Xichui （now Lixian County, Gansu Province）, and concludes that the people who firstly discovered salt wells should be the ancient herdsmen of early Qin in this area.