Literary Research On Bronze Vessel Inscriptions Of East-Zhou And West-Zhou Dynasties

As a precious legacy of history and culture, bronze vessel inscriptions of East -Zhou and West- Zhou Dynasties so far has collected thousands of pieces, in which the longest bronze vessel inscription almost has five hundred words and the content of which are wide-ranging, involving all aspects of social and political life of East-Zhou and West-Zhou Dynasties. The value of these bronze vessel inscriptions are gaining more and more recognitions. Therefore, the researches on bronze vessel inscriptions are attracting more and more attention, but literary research on bronze vessel inscriptions is weak. Specifically, this thesis includes four parts:In light of content, in the first part, the bronze vessel inscriptions are divided into five kinds involving Sacrificial ceremony, appointment and award, Extolling patriarch, recording merits of warriors and law and rules. The followings are the research on the literary value of bronze vessel inscriptions: the increase of narrativity, constantly pursuing the beauty of language, containing some social function,truly revealing the social and cultural life of East-Zhou and West-Zhou Dynasties.The second part is about the comparison of narrative characteristics of bronze vessel inscriptions of East-Zhou and West-Zhou Dynasties. Compared with inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells, some bronze vessel inscriptions can be seen as standard narratives. First, the narrative elements of bronze vessel inscriptions are getting intact and the narrative clue is getting clear; second, the literary narration is starting to sprout; lastly, the narration of bronze vessel inscriptions has primary and second emphasis, and appropriate details.The third part is the comparison of language characteristics of bronze vessel inscriptions of East-Zhou and West-Zhou Dynasties. They are summarized as three characteristics: combining blank verse and rhythm and syntactic variety; simplicity, smooth and accuracy; vivid narration.The fourth part is involved with the study on the social culture showed in the bronze vessel inscriptions of East-Zhou and West-Zhou Dynasties. The studies on the social culture are from two perspectives: first, study the purpose of ancestor worship from sacrifice bronze vessel inscriptions of East-Zhou and West-Zhou Dynasties, second, study the characteristics of award system from the award bronze vessel inscription of East-Zhou and West-Zhou Dynasties.