《周礼》“共其水稾”的文化人类学解读

Cultural Anthropological Interpretation of the “Gong Qi Shui Gao” in Zhou Li

《周礼·地官·封人》记载祭祀时封人为牛牲"共其水稾",即提供水和稾,稾即禾秆,是牛牲平日的饲料。郑玄解释为"给杀时洗薦牲",意谓用水清洗杀牲后留在牲体上的血迹,并向其进献禾秆。从文化人类学视野来看,"共其水稾"实际上是为牛牲死后的灵魂举行谢罪仪式而做的准备,可视为史前狩猎习俗在礼乐文化中的一份遗存。它从心理上排除了牛牲灵魂对祖先和祭祀者的潜在威胁,进而保证了牛牲作为祭品应有的圣洁状态。

Fengren · Diguan ·Zhou Li records that Fengren supplied water and Gao for bovine cattle in sacrifice, which is also called ＂Gong Qi Shui Gao＂. Gao, which means some straw, is the daily feed for bovine cattle. Zheng Xuan explained that ＂Gong Qi Shui Gao＂ kept the bovine cattle full of bloodstain after cleaning and killing them, and then it presented straws for them. From the cultural anthropological perspective, “Gong Qi Shui Gao” is actually an provision for apology ceremony of the bovine cattle’s soul. It can be also regarded as the prehistoric hunting habitude in Li Yue Culture survival. It eliminates the potential threaten that bovine cattle＇ s soul exerted on our ancestors and ritualists ,and further ensures the holy state of bovine cattle as sacrificial offerings.