殷墟商墓随葬铜器玉器之“双轨制”现象探析

On the Phenomenon of“Dual System”of Copper and Jade Buried in Shang Tombs in Yin Ruins

考古发现证明,晚商时期存在这样一种社会现象:墓葬随葬品有单独使用青铜器、单独使用玉器、同时使用铜器和玉器三种模式。不同的随葬模式,标志着不同族群的人们在社会地位、职业身份,可能还有宗教信仰方面,各有不同。即便在同一族群里,人们的职业属性虽然基本一致,但社会地位却差别很大。殷墟甲骨卜辞和铜器铭文资料说明,当时没有把青铜礼器用作赏赐、进献、交易的记录。商人在祭祀天地神祇、祖先神灵等活动中,青铜容器是作为“礼器”——容盛“礼物”的器物而存在,而装盛在铜容器里面的牲肉、粟米、酒醴,才是“礼物”。青铜礼器是施礼者身份和权力的象征,不可用作赏赐、贡纳、馈赠、交换等。而玉礼器则主要用作赏赐、进献、贡纳、祭祀,是真正的“礼物”。在当时,铜器更多代表地位和权力,玉器则更多偏向代表地位和财富。铜器和玉器分属两个不同的社会功能体系——即在表达社会功能时实行铜器、玉器“双轨制”,它们虽有交集却不可互为替代。

Archaeological discoveries have proved that in the late Shang Dynasty,there were three modes of burial objects:the use of bronze alone,the use of jade alone,and the use of bronze and jade at the same time.Different burial patterns mark the differences in social status,professional identity and religious beliefs among people of different ethnic groups.Even in the same ethnic group,although people’s professional attributes are basically the same,their social status is very different.According to the oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions in Yin Ruins,bronze sacrificial vessels were not used as records of reward,offering and trading at that time.In the activities of offering sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth and ancestors,the bronze container exists as a“ritual vessel”-containing“gifts”,and the meat,corn and wine contained in the bronze container are“gifts”.Bronze sacrificial vessels are the symbol of the status and power of the giver,which can not be used as gifts,exchanges,etc.Jade ritual vessels which are real“gifts”are mainly used for reward,sacrifice,tribute and sacrifice.In the Shang Dynasty,bronze ware was more representative of status and power,while jade ware was more representative of status and wealth.Bronze and jade belong to two different social function systems.Though intersect,they can not replace each other.