《系年》——清华简中的古代史书

The Xinian:An Ancient Historical Text from the Qinghua University Collection of Bamboo Books

2008年清华大学入藏了一批楚简,其中有一部久已佚失的史书,被称为《系年》。此书被分为23章,概述从周朝建立至战国早期的历史大事,学术价值弥足珍贵。2011年《系年》公布后,已经有不少学者进行研究,尤其是其中可与传世文献进行对读的章节,取得了很多的成果。本文力图为《系年》研究提供新的视角,认为该书是在五种来源文献的基础上编纂成的。另外,虽然《系年》的内容往往与传世文献,尤其是《左传》的记载相悖,但是,就某些史事而言,《系年》可能有着更为可靠的来源。特别是关于战国前期的历史,传世文献的记载匮乏,《系年》提供的新材料正可填补这部分空白,十分珍贵。

The Xinian系年or Annalistic Historyis one of an important collection of ancient bamboo texts donated anonymously to Qinghua University in 2008.The Xiniancovers events from the history of the Western Zhou dynasty西周(1045—771 B.C.E),through the Spring and Autumn Period春秋时代(771—475 B.C.E)and into the Warring States era战国时代(475—221 B.C.E).Since the first publication of this manuscript in 2011,it has been the subject of much research,though this has usually been focused on the sections which have important parallels within the transmitted tradition.This paper proposes a new way of understanding the Xinian,as a compilation produced from at least five source texts.Furthermore,although the contents of the Xinian are frequently at variance with the transmitted tradition,in particular the account of events given in the Zuozhuan左传,in some instances it may prove the more reliable source.The Xinian also provides some information concerning the history of the early Warring States era that helps to explain events in this generally badly documented era.