曾姬方壶铭文考释

An Interpretation of the Inscriptions on the zengji Bronze Bottle

曾姬方壶之铭颇多修辞,故引起广泛讨论和诸多异解。本文在充分参考以往研究的基础上,对铭文进行了通盘解读。楚宣王26年,圣桓夫人曾姬撒手而去。丧主为她选择的阴宅,是漾陵一带墓地中最好的,于是铸造了宗庙用的青铜祭器加以纪念。由建设阴宅而铸器,在青铜铭文中绝无仅有;而墓葬称陵、墓地称蒿间,在出土文献中都是最早的。壶铭对研究中国古代的墓葬、墓地和死后世界颇有助益。

The bronze inscriptions on the Zengji Square hu feature elaboraterhetoric, whichleads toconsiderable debates and misunderstandings. Based on the previous studies, this article thoroughly interpretsthe inscriptions. In the twenty-sixth year of King Xuan of the Chu state, Lady Shenghuan passed away. Themourner chose the best location for the burial of her afterlife, and casted bronze vessels for temple sacrifice tocommemorate this event. This is the only example that a bronze vessel is made in association for a tombconstruction. The rhetoric refers to the tomb as a mausoleum, and the cemetery as ＂in the wormwoods,＂which is the earliest among the unearthed inscriptions. The bronzeinscriptions contribute greatly to the studyof tomb, cemetery and afterworld in early China.