妀善鼎年代与国别质疑——兼谈箕国灭亡时间

Challenges on the Age of Jishan Ding and the State It Belonged to——And the Time When the State of Ji was annihilated

妀善鼎的年代或以为是战国早期,或以为是春秋早期,从该鼎的纹饰、器形、铭文字体来看,其年代最有可能是春秋晚期,或提前至春秋中期后段。该鼎的国别旧被认为是山东纪国,但是春秋早期之时这个位于山东的姜姓纪国已经被齐国所灭,金文中以""为国名者尚有一个箕国,此国春秋晚期尚存,且地望与燕国临近,两国关系密切。器主自称"妟生",金文中"妟"声之字常读为"燕","妟生"意即燕国之甥。从鼎的年代以及器主自称两方面考虑,妀善鼎应属于箕国,该鼎的出现也证明了箕国的灭亡应在春秋中期以后,合于《路史》"春秋犹有箕、崇之国"的记载。

Jishan Ding was first recorded in Wu Zhenfeng’s article"The Newfound Bronze Inscriptions in Recent Years",which published the inscription on the bottom of Jishan Ding and photos of its shape,together with introductions on its discovery,shape,and inscription.Later,it was included in the book"Bronze Inscriptions and Image Integration of Shang and Zhou Dynasties"edited by Wu Zhenying and the software system of"Shang Zhou Jin Wen Tong Jian".Then Ma Baochun and Yuan Guangkuo published articles to reveal new photos and the inscription on the cover of Jishan Ding,and their research on its inscription,age,and State.However,the aforementioned scholars failed to reach an agreement on the interpretation of the inscription,age and other issues about Jishan Ding.Up to now,there is still room for further research.In the past,Jishan Ding was dated to the early Warring States Period or the early Spring and Autumn Period.From the ornamentation,shape,and inscription of Jishan Ding,it’s most reasonable to date it to the late Spring and Autumn period,or the late phase of mid Spring and Autumn period.Previously,people believed the tripod was possessed by the State of Ji(纪)in Shandong Province.However,in the early Spring and Autumn Period,the State of Ji which was surnamed Jiang(姜),had already been annihilated by the State of Qi(齐).Yet we could find another State named"Ji(箕)"in Bronze Inscriptions,which used the character of"Ji()"as its name.It was adjacent to the State of Yan(燕)and survived till the late Spring and Autumn Period.Furthermore,the two States kept close ties with each other.The owner of Jishan Ding called himself"Yan(妟)Sheng(生)",which means"the nephew of the State of Yan(燕)",as the two words were both pronounced"Yan"in Bronze Inscriptions.Based on the age of Jishan Ding and how its owner referred himself,we believe it belonged to the State of Ji(箕).The emergence of Jishan Ding also proves that the State was annihilated after the mid Spring and Autumn Period,which corresponded to the record of"Lu Shi":the States of Ji(箕)and Chong(崇)still existed in the Spring and Autumn Period.