Based on the analysis of oracle-bone and bronze inscriptions and ethonographical and historical documents,this paper makes a thorough exploration on xiaochen(小臣).It believes that xiaochen were originally young slave...Based on the analysis of oracle-bone and bronze inscriptions and ethonographical and historical documents,this paper makes a thorough exploration on xiaochen(小臣).It believes that xiaochen were originally young slaves or "home born slaves".They grown up at their master’s home and sometimes adopted by their masters and thus were more superior than other slaves.Xiaochen who grown up in the top ruler’s home were usually as attendants and enjoyed higher social status.Thus xiaochen became a special rank of the slaves and their descendants succeeded the in spite of their actual age.展开更多
文摘Based on the analysis of oracle-bone and bronze inscriptions and ethonographical and historical documents,this paper makes a thorough exploration on xiaochen(小臣).It believes that xiaochen were originally young slaves or "home born slaves".They grown up at their master’s home and sometimes adopted by their masters and thus were more superior than other slaves.Xiaochen who grown up in the top ruler’s home were usually as attendants and enjoyed higher social status.Thus xiaochen became a special rank of the slaves and their descendants succeeded the in spite of their actual age.