古中國的魚形鎖具

Fish Locks of Ancient China

鎖具在古中國收藏品的地位低微，少有藏家蒐集，亦鮮有學者研究，本文旨在探討中國魚形鎖具的工藝特色與文化內涵。魚形鎖具屬簧片構造鎖，是古中國最早的花旗鎖，亦是中國魚文化的典型縮影。古人用魚的造形製鎖，主因是魚沒眼皮、不閉眼，可日夜看守門戶。有關魚形鎖具的實物保存與文獻記載，相當的缺乏。從傳世的藏品中，可感受到魚鎖的工藝技術與文化內涵。從詩人的作品中，可推斷出魚鎖最晚應出現於漢代之前。

Owing to the humble standing in the collections, very few collectors take notice on ancient Chinese locks, and the research about the locks is also quite scant. This work studies the craft characteristics and the cultural implications of Chinese fish-shape locks. Chinese fish-shape locks are splitting-spring padlocks, and were the pattern for locks in ancient China. They are the epitome of Chinese fish culture. The major reason that the ancients made locks in the shape of fish was that a fish has no eyelids, it never close its eyes, and can keep its eyes on the safety of doors day and night. Preservation and documentation of fish-shape locks is lacking, but from handed-down articles, we can feel the craftsmanship and artistry of fish-shape locks. From the available poetry from several dynasties, we can infer that the fish-shape locks appeared no later than the Han dynasty.