奚仲作车与中国马车的起源

The Making of Carriage by Xizhong and the Origin of Chinese Carriages

中国马车的起源是学术界颇有争议的一个话题。有的学者主张中国最初的马车自西亚或中亚引进,非源于中原本土。然从考古材料来看,从夏代中经商代前期小型马车发展而来的殷墟马车,已成为一种重要的交通工具和军事指挥平台,其出现时间、关键技术、主要功能都与西来说大相抵牾,证明本土说犹可信据。文献记载夏代奚仲作车,尊为造车鼻祖,历史地肯定了奚仲在中国马车发展进程中所作的重大创新和特殊贡献,彰显出一种自信、自强、创造、创新的民族精神。

The origin of Chinese carriages is a controversial topic in academia. Some scholars advocate that the original carriage of China was imported from West Asia or Central Asia rather than originated from the Central Plains. However, according to archaeological material, the carriage found in Yin Ruins which evolved from a small carriage dated from the middle Xia dynasty to the early Shang dynasty acted as an important vehicle and a platform for mili- tary command. That vehicle＇s date, the key technology it applied, and main function all disapprove the Western theory of and justify the opposite theory. According to the literature, Xizhong in Xia dynasty was extolled as the founder of carriage manufacture, which historically affirmed that during the development of the Chinese carriage Xizhong carried on the significant innovation and made a special contribution to it, which highlights a national spirit of self-confidence, self-improvement, creativity and innovation.