“无需”考

A Study of “Wuxu”

孟簋与班簋作为西周穆王世之标准器,其铭文同述毛公征伐东域叛戎事。然孟簋铭文所云之"无需"究竟何义,向无定说。"无需"即班簋铭文所记之"戎",实即史载穆王时之徐偃王。"无需"为偃王之字,""或为其名,名字皆得于其患膝骨之疾,而"偃"则为其号。文献称徐偃王"有筋而无骨",偃而不能俯,与铭文所记甚合。

Meng-gui and Ban-gui are standard vessels during the reign of King Mu in the Western Zhou Dynasty, both the inscriptions of which described the Duke Mao＇s expedition against the rebelling Rong tribes in the Eastern region.No consistent explanations have been reached on the meaning of ＂Wuxu＂in the inscription of Meng-gui.This article got the conclusion that ＂Wuxu＂ is equal to ＂Gurong＂ in the inscription of Ban-gui,ie.King Yan of Xu who simultaneously reigned during that of King Mu in the Western Zhou Dynasty as recorded in the written accounts.The appellation ＂Wuxu＂shall be theZi（courtesy name） of King Yan,and ＂Gu＂ might be his name,both of which drived from the fact that the King suffered from knee disease,and ＂Yan＂ shall be his Hao（style name）.h is recorded in the written accounts that King Yan of Xu ＂possessed tendon but no bone＂, therefore was capable of lean backward rather than forward,such a record coincided with that of the inscriptions.