“瓦市”新臆

A New Conjecture on Washi

瓦市为宋元时集贸易、娱乐为一体的市场 ,对其来历 ,解释纷纭。笔者根据语言学的资料分析 ,认为“瓦市”之“瓦” ,很有可能就是梵文Samgha或Samgh r m浕之又一省译虼?,瓦市很可能也是一个音译兼意译的梵汉合成词汇。瓦市成长于寺庙之中 ,自来就是固定的场所 ,相对于那些乡间的草市 ,其命名也副其实。瓦市之所以到了宋代方才显赫起来 ,根本还在于宋代经济的新发展。

The etymological origin of the term Washi, a bazaar cum entertainment venue in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, has been a crux in the terminology of Chinese theatre history. This paper conjectures that Wa of Wash is an elided transliteration of the Sanskrit Samgha or Samghrm.So WaShi was a word held transliteration as well as free translation. WaShi shaped in temple,and was settled site. If we make a comparison between WaShi and CaoShi,we will find WaShi was worthy of the name. WaShi was not eminent until Song Dynasty,why? The flourish economy of Song Dynasty was the ultimate cause.