“朋无定数”质疑

Challenging the Argument of One Peng Equalling to an Indefinite Number of Shells

关于商周古贝“朋”的数量,学术界存在分歧。“朋无定数”的说法由来已久,且受到许多学者的认可。根据考古出土资料、卜辞、金文的记载,本文认为“十贝为朋”的看法应该是可信的。不仅卜辞、金文中的资料证明了“十贝为朋”的正确,而且加拿大皇家安大略博物馆怀特氏收藏的S0142号甲骨更证明了这一点。殷周之际的贝币,既可以用于赏赐、交换、流通,也具有贮藏的职能。“朋”作为计量财富的货币单位名称,一朋的贝必有定数。

The peng,a unit of ancient currency,has been the source of disagreement in academia as to how many shells it equalled.‘One peng equalling to an indefinite number of shells’has been accepted by many scholars.Based on the archaeological evidence,oracle bones,and bronze inscriptions,this paper tends to be inclined that ten shells formed a peng.This was not only confirmed by divination and bronze inscriptions,but was also verified through an oracle bone(S0142)originally collected by William C.White and now at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada.The shells were circulated as a currency mainly at the end of the Shang Dynasty and the early Zhou Dynasty,and were used as a reward,or for exchange,circulation,as well as collection.Peng,as a currency unit for measuring wealth,should have definite number of equal shells.