The Comprehensive Study Of The Armorial Inscription On Bronze In Shang And Zhou Dynasties

The armorial inscription on bronze plays very important role in studying family structure, family patterns, clan relationship, and cultural customs of the Shang and Zhou social forms. However due to fragmental materials, difficult explanation and confusion period, the current understanding of its historical vale and use are still faced of difficult in many ways. This thesis is about the armorial inscription in four parts, including origin and nature, phase and dating, classification of character font, and the study of tribe relationship. It can be divided six sections.The first section is an introduction of the article. In this part, we review and summarize the history and the present conditions of the study over the past 1,000 years. Specifically show the main research results and the main problems in current learning. Then based on the four parts in my paper, I explain the relevant research ideas and methods, and the significance of the study.Chapter 1 is the study of origin and nature. On the origins issue, we carry out an inspection focus on two sides: one is the specific time when the armorial inscription appearing on the bronze wares; the other is the character can be traced back to when the first mark or symbol emerged. The conclusion is that the former inscription on bronze is in the early of Shang dynasty and the earliest armorial mark on pottery is about the period of Jiahu Site between 6000BC to 5000BC. On the nature problem, compared with pottery mark discovered in Yin Ruins and the clan name in oracle bone inscriptions, we think that former inscription often include on both clan insignia and non-clan insignia characters. Those clan insignia mark, wrote on the different kinds of oracle bones, show us they are the characters, not drawing. They are used to the name of ancient clan. Non-clan insignia words include divinatory symbols, Ten Heavenly Stems, Twelve Earthly Branches, positions, numbers, name, and so on. We should deal with each case on its merits.Chapter 2 is the study of phase and dating. On this issue, we begin with a theoretical perspective, to make a comprehensive review and summary of the study over past 1,000 years, and to obtain three basic principles and three particular steps and methods about how to distinguish the period. Then on that basis, we make reference to the Yin Ruins bronze phased system, the armorial inscription on bronze can be divided into six development steps: lower stratum Erligang, upper stratum Erligang, Yin RuinsⅠ, Yin RuinsⅡ, Yin RuinsⅢ, and Yin RuinsⅣand concretely discuss the time of unearthed bronze wares on the various stages.Chapter 3 is the study of classification of character font. Firstly, following the traditional classification, composition and nature of two sides will be divided into single-family, composite and quasi-armorial inscription on bronze. The three perspectives focus on the definition, character, forming and judgment etc. Secondly, according to the word form and meaning, we can divide the characters into five categories: human beings, animals, plants, vessels and abstract marks, and focus on the social and culture life, as reflected in the shape and content related issues. Thirdly, in accordance with the tribes classification of the天,大,冉,目,臣,(目目),(目目攴),戈,圍and other 52 kinds of clan insignias wrote on the oracles, we have a discussion whether they are clan names and a preliminary study of the difference between the armorial on bronze and the clan name on oracle.Chapter 4 is a study of clan relationship. On this issue, we mainly discuss from the three aspects, the same tomb, the same cemetery, the same armorial inscription were found different areas and reflected clan relationship. We think that one or more armorial unearthed in the same tomb or cemetery is the reflection of breakup and alliance in the same time; but the same armorial inscription appeared in the different period and different area display the tribes migrating and flowing. The tribe relationship is made up by clan breakup, alliance and migrating. Among them, alliance and union, migrating and flowing are the main way to together nationality in Shang-Zhou dynasties. The ultimate result is the demise of clan insignia characters.The sixth section is the concluding remarks. In this section, we mainly show some specific issues on which we explore the views and opinions. The main ideas and innovation of this paper is located.