大豊(禮)簋銘新釋

The New Interpretation of the Inscription on Da Li Gui

大禮簋(學者多稱爲天亡簋)是作於周武王時的重器。作者廣泛采取前人關於大禮簋銘文的可信的(至少是目前看來最爲合理的)説法,參以己意,撰成此文。主旨認爲:文王在受命稱王時未及正式舉行答謝上天(上帝)的祭祀大典,簋銘所記武王舉行的祭祀即是爲完成文王這一未竟之業而舉行的祀天大典。在祀天後隔一日舉行的饗宴是武王酬答參與大典的臣下們的。在大典中表現不好的受到降低位次以至摒於饗宴之外的待遇,而器主“朕”則因有功而受到勉勵,故作此簋以志榮寵。

Da Li gui,also known as Tian Wang gui by many scholars,is a remarkable bronze vessel created during the reign of King Wu of Zhou.The author has adopted the plausible(or at least the most plausible)interpretation of the inscription on the gui and added his own understanding.The article argues that the sacrifice performed by King Wu,as recorded in the inscription on the gui,was actually the sacrificial ceremony to complete the unfinished business of King Wen,since there was no formal ceremony of thanking Heaven(God)when King Wen ascended to the throne.The feast,held two days after the day of the festival,was the King's way of rewarding his courtiers for their participation in the ceremony.Those who did not perform well in the ceremony were downgraded or even excluded from the feast,whereas"Zhen,"the patron of Da Li gui,was so encouraged for his outstanding service that he made this gui to record all the rewards and favours he had received.