西北屯戍汉简中的“窅”和“萆”

“Yao” and “Bi,” Two words in the Wooden and Bamboo Slips from Northwest Garrison Sites

在西北屯戍汉简的守御器簿中出现了经常连用的"窅"和"萆"字,还分别与"瞀""冒"和"辟",构成"皮窅草萆、皮瞀草萆、皮冒草萆、羊皮冒萆、草辟及冒"等结构。不少学者对"皮窅"进行过研究,未得其义,对"萆"的研究则几乎没有。又有学者认为:两者经常连用,似乎与"胄、甲"相当。通观西北屯戍汉简全部文例,发现"胄、甲"自有其稳定的词语表达。据我们研究,"窅"和"萆",是斥候(侦察兵)候望时的必备装备,每一亭隧仅有一枚。"窅",是斥候的瞭望器具,"萆",是斥候的防御隐蔽装备。

The two words “yao” and “bi,” which were also written as “mao （瞀 or 冒）” and “bi （辟） ,” are often used together in the lists of military equipment recorded in Han dynasty wooden and bamboo slips found at northwest garrison sites, forming language structures like “pi-yao-cao-bi,” “pi-mao-cao-bi,”“yang-pi-mao-bi” or “cao-pi-ji-mao.” The word “pi-yao” has been researched by many scholars but its meaning remains unknown and no research has been done on the word “bi.” Some scholars think that they seem to be equivalent to “zhou and jia （ helmet and armor）” as they are often used together. A general examination of all the examples found in these slips suggests that “zhou and jia” are fixed words or expressions. According to our researches, “yao” and “bi” were equipments necessary for the scouts on watch, the former used for keeping watch, the latter for defending and shelter.