从出土文献看“因”的本义

Investigation of the Original Meaning of“Yin”(因)

对“因”的本义学界有“垫席”、“死”、“囚”、“包裹”及“就”等不同看法。根据字形判断,其在甲骨文、金文及战国文字中可能有“包裹”或“承载”义;考察甲骨文用例存在动词用法;在传世文献中的早期用法为动词义。据此推定,“因”的本义可能为表存现的动词义“在(垫席)上/(衣物)里”。

The original meaning of“Yin”includes“mat”,“death”,“prisoner”,“package”and“on”.According to its shape in oracle bone inscription,bronze inscription and Warring States character,it can be judged that it may have the meaning of“package”or“loading”.Moreover,the verb usage of cases in oracle bone inscription is examined to infer the origin of“Yin”,which may be“on(mat)or in(clothing)”.