■可忌豆“元子”解

The Interpretation of the Inscription “Yuanzi” on the Jiekeji Dou

传世文献和部分金文文献中的"元子"一词,通行工具书一般解释为"长子"、"首子"、"天子、诸侯的嫡长子"等,也有学者提出了"元子"中的"元"应训为"善"的意见。本文通过对1987年山东省淄博市临淄区出土的春秋时期可忌豆铭文"元子中(仲)姞"等内容的研究,认为以往的解释过分强调"长子"、"首子"、"嫡长子"等层面的含义,训为"善"的意见也有可商之处。先秦、秦汉文献及出土资料中"元子"一词强调的只是"嫡庶"的观念,与是否为"长子"、"首子"没有必然联系,也不限于"嫡长子",其他"嫡子(女)"也可以称为"元子"。"元"在训"首"之外,具有"嫡"的涵义,是在宗法制和嫡长子继承制背景下衍生出来的。文中对部分文字形体的隶定问题,也进行了讨论。

In most reference books, the word ＂yuanzi＂ recorded in some literatures and bronze inscriptions is generally interpreted as ＂the eldest son＂ ＂the first son＂ or ＂the wife＇s eldest son of the emperor or feudal princes＂. However, some scholars point out that ＂yuan＂ should be explained as ＂kind＂ Jiekeji Dou [[即木]可忌豆] of the Spring and Autumn Period was unearthed in Linzi District of Zibo, Shandong Province in 1987. According to the research on the [元子中（仲）姞] and other inscriptions on it, the current author believes that too much emphasis has been laid on the meanings such as the first or eldest son in past interpretations, while the interpretation of ＂kind＂ is also questionable. In the literature and excavated materials of Qin-Han Dynasties and the earlier period, the word ＂yuanzi＂ means the wife＇s children, emphasizing the child of the wife rather than the concubine, having no necessary connection with the eldest or first son. In addition to the wife＇s eldest son, wife＇s other children could also be called ＂yuanzi＇. Relating to the meaning of ＂first＂, ＂yuan＂ can be interpreted as ＂the first or legal wife＂, which is derived from patriarchal clan system and the lineal primogeniture system. This paper also makes a discussion on the orthographic translation of some ancient characters.