帛书《二三子问》“牛参弗服”句释读

A Explanation of the Sentence“Niucanfufu(牛参弗服)”during the Silk Manuscript Ersanziwen(《二三子问》)

在马王堆汉墓帛书《二三子问》中,“牛参弗服”之“参”字,应释作“掺”或“纤”;“马恒弗驾”之“恒”字,应释作“极”;“不夏乘牝马”之“夏”字,应释作“夏日”。这段文字的意思是说,牛因瘦弱而不用于服乘,马因疲惫而不用于驾乘,雌马因夏日炎炎而不用于乘驾。这样释读,不仅符合文本对“圣人之政”的阐发,体现出内在的逻辑理据,而且文从字顺,语脉贯通。

In the Silk Manuscript Ersanziwen(《二三子问》)of Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tomb,the word“can(参)”of“niucanfufu(牛参弗服)”should be interpreted as“chan(掺)”or“xian(纤)”;the word“heng(恒)”of“mahengfujia(马恒弗驾)”should be interpreted as“ji(极)”;the word“xia(夏)”of“buxiachengpinma(不夏乘牝马)”should be interpreted as“xiari(夏日)”.The text means that cattle are not used for serving and riding because they are thin and weak,horses are not used for driving because they are tired,and female horses are not used for riding because of the summer heat.This interpretation not only conforms to the text’s exposition of“Saints’Politics”and reflects the inner logic,but also makes the text smooth and coherent.