In the inscription of Oracle Bone Hll : 2 from Zhouyuan, there is the second word “third moon”with a mark of repeat, which the researchers read as “another third moon” and decipher as “a leap third moon”. It is ...In the inscription of Oracle Bone Hll : 2 from Zhouyuan, there is the second word “third moon”with a mark of repeat, which the researchers read as “another third moon” and decipher as “a leap third moon”. It is noteworthy that this inscription gives a complete narration, and that the word “fifth moon” is between the two “third moons. ” Taking the second “third moon” as “a leap third moon” means excluding the “fifth moon,” which is obviously unacceptable. But if we read the second “third moon” as the third moon of next year, then the “fifth moon” will just rationally occur between the two “third moons”, which will be very appropriate to the meaning of the inscription. Moreover, as relevant bronze inscriptions prove, in the Western Zhou calendar, a leap moon was placed at the end of the year, which also shows that the second “third moon” should not be deciphered as “a leap third moon.” Therefore, this word in the Zhouyuan oracle bone inscription does not mean “a leap third moon” but the “thrid moon” of next year.展开更多
文摘In the inscription of Oracle Bone Hll : 2 from Zhouyuan, there is the second word “third moon”with a mark of repeat, which the researchers read as “another third moon” and decipher as “a leap third moon”. It is noteworthy that this inscription gives a complete narration, and that the word “fifth moon” is between the two “third moons. ” Taking the second “third moon” as “a leap third moon” means excluding the “fifth moon,” which is obviously unacceptable. But if we read the second “third moon” as the third moon of next year, then the “fifth moon” will just rationally occur between the two “third moons”, which will be very appropriate to the meaning of the inscription. Moreover, as relevant bronze inscriptions prove, in the Western Zhou calendar, a leap moon was placed at the end of the year, which also shows that the second “third moon” should not be deciphered as “a leap third moon.” Therefore, this word in the Zhouyuan oracle bone inscription does not mean “a leap third moon” but the “thrid moon” of next year.
