略论东周至南北朝时期的步舆

On‘Bu Yu'of the Eastern-Zhou through the Southern-Northern Dynasties

据文献记载,步舆的使用可追溯到夏禹时期,考古发现则可上溯至商代。东周时期步舆类型仅有腰舆,汉代出现肩舆,南北朝时期步舆型式最为丰富。其中河南和云南出土步舆数量最多。乘舆者多为社会上层人物,以女性居多,还有部分身份普通的老人。舆夫为二人或四人,四人抬舆属高级配置。有些步舆还增设顶、脚、隐膝、伞、幰和扇等配置,乘者身份地位较高。西汉时对于皇室使用步舆已有相关礼仪规制,以明贵贱、辨等列;南北朝之后,步舆逐渐成为重要的交通工具。

Bu Yu(步舆),a wheelless enclosed vehicle for one person carried on poles by several men in front and behind,is available earlier in the Xia-Yu period by literature,the kind of object is found in the sites of Shang-dynasty archaeological excavation also.Many types of Bu Yu come out successively with the development of dynasties.Specifically,the Eastern-Zhou dynasty has only one type named‘Yao Yu'(腰舆)-When lifted,its poles rise high to the waist of the carriers.The Han Dynasty invents Jian Yu(肩舆)-the carriers lift it by shouldering the poles and supporting it by hand.As is discovered by archaeology,the Southern-Northern dynasty excels in the number of types while Henan and Yunnan are top-listed with the largest amount of Bu Yu.In most cases,the people taking a Bu Yu are the noble,female,and the ordinary elderly sometimes.Bu Yu is usually moved forward by two or four carriers,in detail,the one carried by four or over is higher-graded,the one equipped with roof,feet,table,umbrella,curtain,and fan is enjoyed by the upper class.The Western-Han dynasty officially laid down a set of rites and regulations specially applied to the royalty taking a Bu Yu,which are taken to serve the senior and the junior by status and rank accordingly.Bu Yu is gradually playing as the major means of transportation after the Northern-Southern Dynasty.