| This paper makes a systematic study on the rite of archery and related issues from Yin Shang Dynasty to the Warring States Period, according to a interdisciplinary method and the analysis of documents, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions and archaeological materials.The main points are listed as follows.The rite of archery,which is a symbolic rite in shooting arrows drafted by the upper class of ancient China with certain regulations, includes She Sheng (shooting sacrifices), She Yuhuo (shooting captures), She Hou (shooting targets), Dashe li, Binshe li, Yanshe li, Xiangshe li, Xue she, Junzhong Sheli(archery rite in the army), sorcerous rite of archery and Touhu li derived from archery rite.According to the records of the Ancient Legend Times, appearance of the archery rite may be traced back to the "Hero Times"of primitive tribes and tribes-alliance, as well as the Military Democracy Period.The sorcerous rite of archery was the first form of archery rite, with the help of sorcerous power, it had been an important way for the head of alliance and the supreme monarch to inspect, punish and control the leaders of tribes and vassal states, as well as an important part of the binding system to the alliance society together with other rites.The rite of archery was first formed in Yin Shang Dynasty according to the records of oracle bone inscriptions, kinds of the rites increased, rites aimed at shooting contest populated, status of the people engaged in the contest complicated, not only animals but also targets were shoot, the rite held both in in the wild or constructions beside waters, as well as fixed places such as xiang, xu (both are names of different ancient local schools).archery rite in Shang Dynasty bears many common grounds with that of Zhou in its elements, rules, procedures and so on. Many kinds of this rite in Zhou Dyansty can be found in Shang,although with some traditional customs of field hunting, it did had been formulated and many terminologies came into being.All of them point out that archery rite was formed in late Shang Dynasty and developed to a certain degree.The Western Zhou Dynasty was a most populated period of ancient archery rite. It was one of the rites and skills that the nobles must learned.Dominated by the warlike conception, the suzerain conception, the deity conception, and influenced by the shooting education in schools, the institution of rewarding-punishing and promotion, the circumstances of hunting and war, the benevolent rule and rite-administration, and some other political reasons and backgrounds, archery rite in Western Zhou Dynasty had been developed a lot than Shang in kinds, scales and contents.lts purpose includes sorcery imprecation, military training, talent selection, moral inspection and so on.lt was characterized with numerous kinds, high standard, grandeur scale and complicated contents,and totally institutionalized.There was not only certain technical standard must be followed, but also strict rules in procedure and time, and the rite was always held with significant political purpose.During the Spring and Autumn Period, the archery rite was developed to a more complicated situation.On the one hand, archery rite of the royal court was neglected for the collapse of monarchy, and that of the vassal states declined for the lost of rule, bearing a grate difference from the grandeur scale of Western Zhou.lt was more formalized and put more emphasis on ceremony and education.The contents were increased and many were fixed in the later times, which were closed related to the archery rite recorded in the rite books of Eastern Zhou.binshe li and yanshe li were more amusly,the xiang li and yan li before shooting showed a trend of mergence.The appearance of touhu li and its spread reflected the dereliction of the aristocrats in traditional rites and their negligence in shooting skills.On the other hand, with the private shooting education popularized to common people and spreaded to the lower class, archery rite was gradually socialized.And influenced by the wars, warlike customs and aesthetic sense, shooting for martial training and archery rite in the army had been popular at the same time.The once declined archery rite gained new development in the Warring States Period among the dukes and states,and became a etiquette and entertainment frequently held by the lords, rising bureaucrats and educated class, which was recorded and depicted in documents and figure inscriptions on bronzes. Archery rite was very popular at that time, especially in the Double Zhou and Three Jin, Qi Lu and Wu Chu areas.There were many kinds of archery rite, and shooting for martial training and archery rite in the army was more populated for the social circumstances.For wild geese were need in the aristocrats' dinners and some othe rites, yi she was also popular.With the disintegratation of traditional feudal sovereign, the old hierarchy in archery rite collapsed. With the development of the states, archery rites in the Warring States Period were diversified in styles and different in scales.With the deepening of social changes, the booming of economic and transform of social conceptions and living styles, there was no longer need of strict classification in archery rite. With the favor of archery rite among the lords and educated class,and the spread of touhu li and yi she to other social status, the archery rite in the Warring States Period became totally common and mundane.The archery rites recorded in rites books of Eastern Zhou is a conclusion of that in Shang and Zhou Dynasties, with certain amendments as well.It was the final form on the developing chains of the archery rites of Zhou Dynasties.According to the change of characteristics and functions, the development of archery rites of Zhou Dynasties can be divided into 4 periods.The first period,from Shang to early Western Zhou,was the period being functional.The rite put more emphasis on training and publicizing good shooting skills, etiquettes were simple.The second period,from middle to late Western Zhou,was the institutionized period.The archery rite of this period focused on etiquette.The third period,the Spring and Autumn Period,was the period being socialized.The rite spread widely to the folk class from the noble class.The fourth period, the Warring States Period, was the period being mundane.The rite went no longer with strict rules and the participants were gradually more common, and it was no longer a strict institution but mostly an amusement.After the compilation of the Eastern Zhou rite books, archery rites in ancient China step into a text period.The archery rites was recorded in "The Three rites",its procedure and contents were written down in characters as a rule and foundation, which should be followed when people holding the rites.As a result of it, archery rites could be widely disseminated despite of the confinement of time and space, and be more formulated at the same time.Finally the practical functions were deserted and it has been a merely etiqutte for performance.The archery rite of Zhou Dynasty also reflect the change of the social status constructure from the king to the lowest aristocrats shi,and the change of social institution.The archery rite of Zhou Dynasty formed a connecting link in the history of the archery rite in ancient China, and had profound effect to the later times.lt also did certain help to set up the authority of the Zhou king, to improve the combat capacity of the military and physique of people, and affected greatly to archery rite overseas, the dissemination of Confucious knowledge, as well as modern sports.In conclusion, the author make efforts from six aspects in this paper,(1) collecting all the related documens,records and materials,(2)probing the archery rite before Zhou Dynasty and clarifying the origin and earlier situation of it, (3) analyzing the archery rite of Zhou Dynasty and clarifying its differences and similarities in kinds, holding place, characteristics in Western Zhou, the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period,(4) analyzing the historical reasons and social backgrounds of the development of archery rite from Shang to the Warring States Period,its reflection of the change of the social status constructure social institution,and its historical functions and effects to the later times,which were hardly concerned in the past,(5)tackling with some difficult problems, especially those has been controversial for long and key ones,(6)on the study of particular problems,paying more attention to the analysis of documents from aspect of rites and rethinking the former explanation, in order to get correct interpretation and make scientific conclusion. |
