盐金考——兼谈河东池盐与中国早期国家-《中国农史》

文章信息/Info

Title:: ??Textual Research on Salt Gold: Exploring the Hedong’s Pond Salt and Its Role in Early Chinese State Formation

Author(s):: CHEN Dongchuan; (Center for Historical Geographical Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433)

摘要:: 古代钱币中有面铸“”字形的金币，应释读为“盐金”，其意为盐地所铸金币。“”与“盬”所从盐完全相同，“盬”曾专门指代早期河东盐池，两者均是地名专称。古人将“”铭铸于金币之上，又或是专设“盬”指代河东池盐的行为，是重视盐这一战略资源的体现。河东地区丰富的池盐资源为中国早期国家的形成、发展提供了经济基础。将山西运城市芮城县清凉寺史前墓地特殊现象、夏县东下冯遗址中圆形储盐建筑以及殷商卜辞中有关盐业管理官员的明确记载与河东池盐的开发史相对照，可为探讨河东盐池所处的晋南地区在中华文明起源与早期发展中曾扮演的角色提供新的视角。

Abstract:: “” pattern engraved on the ancient gold coin should be interpreted as “salt gold”, meaning gold coins cast in salt land. The meanings of “” and “Gu” are both “salt”. “Gu” was specifically used to refer to the Hedong Salt Ponds in early China. Both are proper names for geographical locations. The ancients’ practice of casting “” on gold coins or specifically setting up “Gu” to refer to the Hedong Salt Ponds demonstrated their emphasis on salt as a strategic resource. The abundant lake salt resources in the Hedong region provided an economic foundation for the formation and development of the early Chinese state. By comparing the peculiar phenomena at the Prehistoric Cemetery of Qingliang Temple in Ruicheng County in Shanxi Province, the circular “salt storage” buildings in Dongxiafeng Site in Xia County, and the clear records of salt management officials in Shang Dynasty oracle bone inscriptions with the historical utilization of Hedong pond salt, we can provide a new perspective for exploring the role that the Southern Shanxi, where the Hedong Salt Ponds are located, played in the origin and early development of Chinese civilization.