马王堆三号汉墓遣策“马竖”杂议

On the "Mashu" in the Inventory of the Grave Goods of Mawangdui Tomb No.3 of the Han Dynasty

马王堆三号汉墓出土遣策所列"男子明童"中可见"马竖"称谓。"马竖"身份应与服务于墓主的以养马驯马的僮仆有关。"竖"则作为指称未成年人称谓用字,在秦汉社会比较普及。"竖"又用作成年人贬称。相关现象,有益于说明当时未成年人的社会地位。

In the list of the“male ifgurines”in the qiance (inventory of the grave goods) of Mawangdui Tomb No. 3 of the Han Dynasty, the term “mashu (lit. horse boy)” is seen. The “mashu” would be the servants in charge of feeding and training horses for the tomb occupants. The“shu”is a popular term used in the Qin and Han Dynasties to call the juveniles, while also could be used to call adults in derogatory sense. These usages are helpful for us to understand the social positions of the juveniles at that time.