《上博七‧君人者何必安哉》「州徒之樂」考

A New Interpretation of the Phrase “Zhoutu zhi yue” 「州徒之樂」 from Batch Seven of the Collection of Chu Bamboo Slips at the Shanghai Museum

《上博七‧君人者何必安哉》有「州徒之樂」一語，對「州徒」二字的釋讀，學者未有共識。本文結合音、義及上下文語境作分析，論證「州徒」應讀為「禱社」。簡文「州徒之樂」即「禱社之樂」，意為古時祭社所用之樂舞。

This article attempts to elucidate the phrase “zhoutu zhi yue” 「州徒之樂」 found in the Shanghai Bamboo Slips. Through an analysis of this phrase’s context, sound and meaning, it is contended here that zhou 「州」and tu 「徒」 should be read as loan characters for dao 「禱」 and she「社」 respectively. The phrase 「州徒之樂」 is thus tantamount to 「禱社之樂」, which denotes the song and dance performed during the ancient ritual sacrifice to the land deity.