广州是华南海上丝绸之路最早的始发港(Ⅰ)

GUANGZHOU: THE EARLIEST SET SAIL PORT OF THE MARITIME SILK ROUTE OF SOUTH CHINA (Ⅰ)

概述了中国在史前已发明了养蚕与纺织丝绸,用作宗教祭祀器物,周秦用于服饰和书写纸,并流传海外。丝绸之路就是古代中国向国外输出丝绸等并从外国输入货物所经之路,有海陆多条。华南海上丝绸之路始发港,据《汉书》记载111BC有日南港、徐闻港和合浦港。据现代学者研究,秦汉时(200BC前)有番禺港(今广州);南宋和元代(12～14世纪)有刺桐港(今泉州)。最早的始发港问题引起争论,焦点集中在徐闻说与番禺说。文中为进一步讨论而整理了持徐闻说和否定番禺说的依据。

Silkworm cultivation and silk weaving were invented in China prehistorically. At early stage silk was used in religious sacrifice. In the Zhou and Qin dynasties, it was used for dress, adornment and writing, and since then silk was introduced abroad. The silk route was the ancient way through which the silk and other commodities were exported from China and some goods were imported from abroad. There are many silk routes on land and on sea. A Chinese ancient book reported that in 111BC, the set sail ports of the maritime silk route of South China included Rinan port, Xuwen port and Hepu port. According to the modern researchers, Panyu(now Guangzhou) port existed in the QinHan dynasties (before 200BC) and Citong port(now Quanzhou) existed in the southern Song and Yuan dynasties (12th～14th centenaries). Controversy about the earliest set sail port has arisen and focused on the theories of Xuwen and Panyu. The arguments for Xuwen theory or against Panyu theory are sorted up in this paper for further discussion.