甲骨文“息”字与古息国

The character“Xi”in oracle bone inscriptions and the ancient state of Xi

本文探讨甲骨文中的“息”字,也研究古息国之“息”字的书写形式以及古息国的有关问题。本文认为,商代确实已经存在息方国。武王灭商之后,该国得以更立。息国地址在今河南罗山以南、蟒张一带。息国境内有一座大山,当时就叫息山,息国应该是以山名为国名。甲骨文中有“息伯”“妇息”等词语,是商代存在息方国的确证。

This article discusses the character“xi(息)”in oracle bone inscriptions and also researches the writing form of“xi(息)”and relevant issues of the ancient state of xi.This article holds the view that the state of Xi existed in the Shang Dynasty.After King Wu conquered the Shang dynasty,the state was re-established.And the state of Xi was located in present-day Mangzhang,which is in the south of Luoshan,Henan.Besides,there was a big mountain in the territory of the ancient state of Xi,which was called Mountain Xi at that time,and the ancient state of Xi should be named after the mountain.Moreover,there are words such as“xi bo(息伯)”and“fu xi(妇息)”[JP2]in the oracle bone inscriptions,confirming the existence of the state of Xi in the Shang Dynasty.