《汉书·江充传》“桐木人”小考

Biography of Jiang Chong in the Hanshu──A Research Note on Wooden Figurines

据《汉书》记载，江充曾制桐人祝诅汉武帝。江充通晓医术，并据医理解释巫蛊事。汉代不少法术都与木人有关。在墓葬礼俗多以梧桐人为像，称之为桐人或偶人。江充以医理言巫蛊，显示医、巫之间藕断丝连的关系。

According to his biography in the Ha nshu (History of the Han Dynasty), Jiang Chong had carved a figurine of paulownia wood,which he used to cast for resolving matters of witchcraft and poisoning with his profound know ledge of medicine.Paulownia wooden figurines were connected with a number of mag ical arts during the Han Dynasty.Funeral practice at that time also included the carving of paulownia wood into figurines and statuettes.Jiang Chong's use of medical principles to discuss witchcraft clearly demonstrates the common source of medicine and witchcraft.