六朝铜弩机小议

A Study of the Bronze Crossbow Mechanism of the Six Dynasties

弩机是冷兵器时代远程杀伤性武器弩的组成部分,历经战国秦汉四百余年的发展,至六朝时期臻于成熟。六朝弩机特点是整体高阔,望山高大,悬刀厚重,差别主要体现在尺寸和装饰上。根据尺寸,可将六朝弩机分为强弩弩机、一般弩机和明器弩机三种,比较奢华的弩机使用贵金属装饰,显示出物主的财富和地位。弩机一般发现于墓葬,根据其尺寸大小、完残情况和随葬方式判断,应是具有实用功能的随葬品,带有驱邪避凶的寓意,同时也是家族归属和身份地位的象征。三国时期的刻铭弩机,反映出动荡背景下军械制造业的兴盛,携带当时社会经济、军事等方面历史信息。魏蜀吴三国继承两汉制造业传统和物勒工名制度,而又有所不同,特别是孙吴弩机多见使用者姓名,是孙吴前期战时背景下,江南豪族私兵化和武器私有化现象的体现,一定程度上反映出孙吴建国道路的特殊性。

As a part of the weapon of long-range destruction crossbow,the crossbow mechanism had become more perfect after a long development for more than 400 years from the Warring States period to the Six Dynasties.The crossbow mechanism in the Six Dynasties was longer and wider in the whole size with the larger scope and the thicker trigger.The decoration was also quite different from the former one.According to the size,the crossbow mechanism can be divided into three types,the super ones,the normal ones and the ones as burial objects.The sumptuous crossbow mechanisms are decorated with precious metal to display the owner’s wealth and status.The crossbow mechanisms are usually discovered in the tombs.Judging from the size,condition and funerary mode,they should be the burial objects with practical function to counteract evil force and symbolize the property and status of the family.The inscription on the crossbow reflected the thriving of the ordnance manufacturing industry and other social,economic,military information in the turbulent period.The tradition of inscribing the fabricant’s name continued in the period of the Three Kingdoms while the inscription in the crossbow in the Kingdom of Wu often showed the user’s name,which reflected the phenomenon of privatization of soldiers and weapons in the wealthy and influential clan in the Jiangnan region during the wartime.To some extent,it also reflected the particularity of the path of establishing the Kingdom of Wu.