从温县盟书谈中国古代盟誓制度

所谓盟誓 ,指人们用言辞共相约束。盟誓的言辞 ,《左传》称之为“载书”。盟与誓有时是有差别的。《礼记·曲礼》说 :“约信曰誓 ,莅牲曰盟。”盟是两个人、两个集团及其以上之间的行为 ,通常采用神秘的仪式。就是说举行盟礼 ,要杀牲歃血以表示神圣与庄重。中国古代对血有所崇拜 ,先民有血祭的习俗 ,牲血被认为有避除邪恶的功能。一件器物新成 ,要涂以牲血叫“衅”。盟誓用口饮血 ,叫“歃血” ,是取信于神的一种仪式。盟多由掌权者主持 ,称为“盟主” ,而且盟是用于加强外交 ,巩固内部秩序的重要手段。誓则常见于军旅主帅誓师、祭祀、诉讼及…

On the Institution of Oath - taking for alliance in Ancient China in the Light of the Wenxian Oath Documents

The oath of alliance is a behavior that people use language to self restrain and mutual restrain It is a political tactic used by individuals or groups to build a united front against the others The institution of alliance is based on the worship to the supernatural spirits and blood It began to exist in the times of tribal confederation,became most wide spread during the Spring and Autumn period, and continue in use up to the present day However the rite of the oath was no longer clear after the Han times The recoveries of the codes of alliance from the archaeological sites in Wenxian and Houma are the only two extant sets of documentary materials for the study of this intriguing cultural system of the past They provide important data for the detail reconstruction of the rite