古代航海术中“铅锤”考述——基于中日航海文献的比较和实地考察

Research on “Qianchui” in Ancient Navigation Technology:Based on the Comparison and Field Investigation of Chinese and Japanese Navigation Records

中国古代航海术中的“铅锤”是航海测深和测定海底环境的重要工具,文献记载最早出现于宋代。通过对历史文献的梳理,结合海洋考古成果和实地调查结果,指出“铅锤”不仅用于古代航海,还广泛应用于我国沿海地区的渔业捕捞,至今厦门等地渔民仍在使用;补充了文献中未详细记载的“铅锤”制作和使用方法。其次,通过对中日航海文献的对比发现日本航海文献中的“つるべ”与中国的“铅锤”实为一物;所记载的航海术,并非以往学界普遍认为是来自于荷兰的航海术,也受中国航海术的影响。从使用时间跨度、空间分布和地域影响来看,“铅锤”作为我国传统航海、渔捞的重要工具,体现了我国传统的海洋文化和智慧。

Qianchui(lead line) in ancient Chinese navigation is an important tool for depth sounding and detection of seabed environment.Its usage in China was first recorded in the Song Dynasty.Based on the analysis of historical documents,combined with the reports of marine archaeology and field investigation,this article points out that qianchui was not only used in ancient navigation,it was also widely used in fishing in China's coastal areas,and it is still used by the fishermen in Xiamen and other places.This paper adds to the current literature by presenting the method of making and using qianchui.In addition,through the comparison of Chinese and Japanese navigation records,it is found that “tsurube” in Japanese navigation documents and “qianchui” in China are actually the same thing.The influence from Chinese navigation techniques can be seen in navigation techniques recorded in these documents,contrary to the common belief in the past that they were derived from the Dutch.Considering the time span,space distribution and regional influence of the use of qianchui,this paper concludes that it was an important tool of Chinese traditional navigation and fishing,which reflects the advance in traditional Chinese navigation technology.