再释“且埶”

A New Interpretation of "Zushe"

淅川和尚岭楚墓出土的铜器铭文"且埶"二字,以周代铭文表达之惯例,"且"字应表示祖先之"祖","埶"字应表"设"。此器应是墓主灵魂所凭依之物,楚、曾等国称之为"祖埶",依传统的礼俗则可称作"祖坐"或"神坐",若以"三礼"所载,其应是死者之子为其所设灵魂依凭的"重",或称"祖重"。在举行丧葬礼仪时,"祖埶"代表死者接受祭奠,最后随棺柩一起葬入墓内。

Bronze inscriptions Zushe were cast on an bronze artifact unearthed at the Heshangling burial of the Chu state. According to the Zhou tradition, the inscription Zu should be interpreted as ancestors, while the inscription She means apparatus. The bronze artifact with the Zushe inscriptions symbolizes the soul of the deceased, which could also be named as Zuzuo or Shenzuo. According to the Book of Rites, such device, which is named as Chong or Zuchong, should be installed by the son of the deceased. In the funerary ceremony, this device, symbolic of the passed away, would be expected to receive all the offerings, which would be buried in chamber in the end.