从亲称到尊称:商周时期“公”称谓的演变

From a Kinship Term to an Honorific Title:The Evolution of the Meaning of“Gong”in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties

在商代晚期,"公"是商王对其旁系亲属的称呼,使用这一称谓本是为了对商王室中的直系和旁系亲属进行区分,从而凸显直系血亲的崇高地位。不过,虽然在商王室中,"公"是旁系,是小宗,但相对于绝大多数臣民来说,"公"又是王室贵族,地位也十分尊贵。因此,原本作为王室旁系亲属称谓的"公"同时也兼有尊崇的含义。周初承袭殷制,但除了周王室贵族有凭血缘关系而称"公"者外,周王还常把"公"这个称号授予功臣,用以褒奖和拉拢他们,并以此凸显周王室与他们之间兄弟般的密切关系。在此情况下,"公"的亲属性含义渐失,而政治性含义渐增。尤其是平王东迁以后,周王室力量衰弱,各诸侯国国君竞相自称为"公",此后"公"完全演变为一个尊称。

In the late Shang dynasty,the word"gong"(公)was the appellation for the collateral relatives of the king of Shang.It was used to distinguish the direct and collateral relatives of the royal family and highlight the lofty status of the immediate family.For the king,"gong"was collateral relatives with lower status,while for most of the king’s subjects,"gong"was an honorable title which was only second to the king.Therefore,"gong"as the appellation for collateral relatives had honorable meaning as well.The early Zhou dynasty adopted the system of Shang.Besides the royal families and the nobilities who acquired the title of"gong"by virtue of kinship,this title was also bestowed to the meritorious statesmen as a reward and a means of inveiglement.In this case,the word"gong"lost its kindred meaning and was gradually endowed with a political meaning.By the time of the Spring and Autumn Period,most of the feudal princes proclaimed themselves as"gong",and thereafter the word"gong"completely evolved into an honorific title.