A Study Of The History Of Zhou Gong Seen In Tsinghua Bamboo Slips

Among the nine series of Tsinghua Bamboo Slips that have been compiled and published,the chapters containing Zhou Gong’s historical materials are as follows:Qi Ye耆夜,Jin Teng金縢,Huang Men皇门,Xi Nian系年,Zhou Gong Zhi Qin Wu周公之琴舞and Liang Chen良臣,many of the statements in the bamboo slips may be mutually corroborated with the classics,or are still open to question.This provides us with a new opportunity to study the history of Zhou Gong.It is planned to combine the relevant descriptions of Tsinghua Bamboo Slips,based on the research of predecessors,to conduct a more systematic research on the history of Zhou Gong seen in Tsinghua Bamboo Slips.The issue of"Three Supervisors"三监at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty is closely related to"Duke Zhou Conquest of the East"周公东征.Judging from the records of the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips of Xi Nian系年and handed down documents,the"Three Supervisors"三监should refer to the three armies that were dispatched to the Yin Shang’s hometown at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty to supervise Yin Shang’s survivors,rather than"Uncle Guan,Uncle Cai and Wu Geng"or"Uncle Guan,Uncle Cai,Uncle Huo."The"Quelling the Chaos in the First Year"一年救乱in Zhou Gong’s Regency contained in Shang Shu Da Zhuan尚书大传is to resolve internal worries,referring to the Zhou Gong conquest to calm down the unrest of the Zhou family’s Uncle Guan,Uncle Cai and other relatives in the Zhou family.The"Defeated Yin in the Second Year"二年克殷is to calm down the external troubles,refers to Zhou Gong defeating the rebellion of Yin Shang survivors led by Wu Geng,including the"Three Supervisors"三监army captured after the generals were killed by the Yin Shang rebels."Defeated Yan in the Third Year"三年践奄is to consolidate the rule of the East,referring to Zhou Gong’s conquest of the people in Shang and Yan who rebelled with Wu Geng.Judging from the texts of Tsinghua Bamboo Slips Qi Ye耆夜,Shanghai Bamboo Slips Shi Lun诗论and Tang Feng’s Cricket唐风蟋蟀,Preface of Mao’s Poems毛诗序should misinterpret Tang Feng’s Cricket唐风蟋蟀.The Cricket蟋蟀created by Zhou Gong in Qi Ye耆夜should have its origins.Although its text may be changed and collated in later generations,it should not be fabricated.Zhou Gong should be the author of Cricket蟋蟀,Bi Bi贔贔and Ming Ming Shang Di明明上帝.The three poems of Zhougong,Cricket蟋蟀,Bi Bi贔贔and Ming Ming Shang Di明明上帝contained in Qi Ye耆夜,respectively reflect Zhou Gong’s views on wine administration酒政观,respect for heaven敬天观,and the thoughts of not greedy for comfort无逸思想.These thoughts are consistent with the thoughts of Zhou Gong contained in the classics,and this also confirms the credibility of Zhou Gong’s historical events contained in Qi Ye耆夜.Except for the first(or half)poem written by Zhou Gong in Zhou Gong Zhi Qin Wu周公之琴舞,all nine subsequent poems should be written by Cheng Wang.There should also be eight poems(or eight and a half)of Zhou Gong’s poems in Zhou Gong Zhi Qin Wu周公之琴舞.Judging from the number of scattered poems recorded in Zhou Gong Zhi Qin Wu周公之琴舞and the classics passed down,the poems that Confucius had seen in that year should be more than 305,and he should have edited a text for teaching.However,the issue of"Remove Nine from Ten"十分去九should be further discussed based on the unearthed documents.