翡翠的历史溯源——诗词中“翡翠”词义的演变

Origin of the Use of Jadeite——Evolution of the Meaning of the Term "Feicui"

本文通过统计和考释诗词资料中的“翡翠”词条清晰揭示其词义演变过程。统计结果表明,“翡翠”一词从周朝一直到明朝最主流的用法是用以指鸟名。该词条第一次出现词义的演变是在战国时期,用以指代翠羽或相关事物,这种用法在南北朝时期使用相对频繁;“翡翠”一词第二次出现词义的拓展是在南北朝时期,用以指颜色(翠绿色),该用法至清朝发展至巅峰,占整体使用的45%。因此,可以推测正是由于这种词义用法的发扬,使得缅甸出产的辉石类玉石因其颜色翠绿而被逐渐称为翡翠。同时,根据名称的演化规律以及产地差别可以推断,五代至宋时期名为“翡翠”的矿物与如今宝石学所指翡翠并不一致。

In this paper,the evolution of the meaning of the term"Feicui"was clearly revealed by counting and interpreting this term in poetry.The results show that the most mainstream usage of the term"Feicui"was to refer to bird names from the Zhou Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty.The extended meaning of vivid green feather or related ornament firstly appeared in the Warring States Period.This meaning was relatively frequently used during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.The second expansion of the meaning of"Feicui"was in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and used to refer to color(vivid green).This usage reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty,accounting for 45%of the overall usage.Therefore,it could be speculated that jadeite gained the name"Feicui"on basis of the promotion of this usage in the Qing Dynasty.Meanwhile,given the evolution of the name and the difference in origin,it can be inferred that the mineral named"Feicui"from the Five Dynasties to the Song Dynasty is not consistent with the jadeite referred to in gemology today.