中华文明史的玉器时代与王权起源

The Jade Age and the Origin of Kingship in the History of Chinese Civilization

中华文明与西方文明的起源方式存在明显差异,西方文明起源于铜器时代,而中华文明起源于玉器时代。在五千多年中华文明史中,以斧钺彰显王权的文化现象也起源于玉器时代,而玉钺便是军权、神权、王权三合一的象征物。中华文明史中象征王权的斧钺,其时代发展顺序依次经历了:玉斧钺时代、铜斧钺时代、铁斧钺时代。随着铜斧钺时代、铁斧钺时代的逐步发展,玉钺的王权象征意义虽渐趋弱化,但以玉钺或其它高规格玉器象征王权的文化却始终贯穿于中华文明史的发展进程之中。而今应当特别注意玉器时代的玉钺对王权起源与发展的影响,更应当给玉器时代一个应有的历史地位。

The origins of Chinese civilization and Western civilization are obviously different.Western civilization originated in the Bronze Age,while Chinese civilization originated in the Jade Age.In the 5000-year history of Chinese civilization,axe as the symbol of kingship also originated in the Jade Age.Jade axe is the symbol of military power,divine power,and kingship combined.In the history of Chinese civilization,axe as the symbol of kingship has gone through the era of stone axe,jade axe,bronze axe,and iron axe in order of time.With the advent of the Bronze Age and the Iron Age,the symbolic significance of jade axe for kingship has gradually weakened,but the phenomenon of using jade to symbolize kingship has entwined the development of Chinese civilization for more than five thousand years.So,special attention should be paid to the influence of the Jade Age on the origin of kingship,and the Jade Age should be given a proper historical position.