Sage King Yu 禹 and the Bin Gong XU 豳公盨

• Published in: Early China 2013, Vol.35, p.69-103
• Main Author: Cook 柯鶴立, Constance A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0362-5028; 2325-2324
• DOI: 10.1017/S0362502800000444

The recent discovery of an unusual ninth century B.C.E. bronze inscription dedicated to Yu as a founder deity has reopened discussions regarding the historicity of legendary figures. This article examines the occult role of this figure in Zhou society and suggests that the inscription be read as a song used in a harvest ceremony of thanksgiving to Yu. The author suggests that Yu once functioned along the same lines as Houji, as both ancestral founder and earth deity, but was eventually suppressed in favor of Houji. 新近發現的公元前九世紀的豳公盨 ， 其獨特的銘文尊奉大禹為具有神性的先祖 ， 使學者們重新開始討論有關神話人物的歷史性 。 與此不同 ， 本文側重分析大禹在周代社會中的神秘角色 ， 同時認為該銘文應讀為一首對禹具有感恩性質的詩頌 。 本文認為 ， 大禹在東周之前也可能像傳統的周代祖神后稷一樣 ， 具有雙重角色 ， 既為祖神又為地神 ， 但後來其地位與重要性均為后稷所掩 。