A Study Of The Western Zhou Dynasty’s Educational Situation Recorded In Bronze Vessel Inscriptions

This article focuses on the study of bronze vessel inscriptions,comprehensively uses oracle b ones,handed down documents,and ancient characters interpretation materials to systematicall y investigates and studies the origin of ancient Chinese school education and the basic situatio n of Western Zhou dynasty’s education.The article mainly discusses the following issues:Part I.Educational Places,System and Features of the Western Zhou Dynasty.Using the interpr etation results of the Western Zhou Dynasty bronze inscriptions to analyze the content of scho ol education in the inscriptions;exploring the process of university name change through the e volution of inscriptions’ font style and meanings;Combining the records of inscriptions and h anded down documents to illustrate the situation of the school education at all levels and the s chool’s shape,etc.,to reveal the multiple functions of the educational places in the Western Zh ou Dynasty,and examine the teaching management system and educational characteristics of t he Western Zhou Dynasty.Part II.Educational content of the Western Zhou Dynasty.Based on the educational content of t he Zhou Dynasty recorded in handed down documents,by analyzing the inscriptions’ font styl e and the number of ideographic component related to inscriptions,combined with the relevan t materials of oracle bones and "Shuo Wen",it focuses on the education of etiquette and music in the Western Zhou Dynasty,Education of archery and equestrianism as well as education of writing and mathematics.The education of etiquette and music focuses on the cultivation of t he morality of the educated,and it involves sacrificial etiquette,military etiquette,feast etiqu ette,musical morality,musical tone and dance,etc.;the education of archery and equestrianis m focuses on the physical fitness and bravery of the educated.The content involves Shooting tools,shooting types,horse riding and horse-raising ability,vehicle warfare skills,etc.;educa tion of writing and mathematics attaches great importance to the literacy and arithmetic ability training of educated people,which involves reading text,writing instruments,calculation met hods and skills.Part III.The social concepts embodied in school education during the Western Zhou Dynasty.By analyzing the inscriptions configuration characteristics of compare categories to select obj ect,and combining the relevant content presented by the bronze inscriptions,the social conce pts reflected in the education process of the Western Zhou Dynasty were summarized,includi ng the concepts of natural worship,witchcraft and sacrifice,and talent selection concept and the idea of legal order,etc.These concepts play a comprehensive role,embodying the idea tha t school education in the Western Zhou Dynasty attaches importance to harmonious relations between people and nature,people and people,and people and society.