A study of the "Zi fan zi yu" and "Duke Wen of Jin entered Jin" chapters in the Tsinghua bamboo slips Vol.7 = 清華簡(柒)《子犯子餘》、《晉文公入於晉》整理研究

Abstract

In April 2017, volume VII of the book series Warring States-era Bamboo Slips, which consists of four manuscripts, was published by Tsinghua University. This dissertation will explore two manuscripts on the slips, which are entitled “Zi Fan Zi Yu” and “Duke Wen of Jin entered Jin”. Both manuscripts chronicle the life of Duke Wen of Jin. Fifteen of the silk slips are about “Zi Fan Zi Yu”. The slips cover the period when Chong Er, Duke Wen of Jin (697-628), was forced to go into exile in the Qin state. They also detail how Zi Fan and Zi Yu responded to the criticisms that Duke Mu of Qin (683-621) had made, as well as how Duke Mu and Chong Er asked Jian Shu (690-610) regarding policy making.

There are eight silk slips in “Duke Wen of Jin entered Jin”. They explain how prince Chong Er adopted a series of measures after returning to his realm as Duke Wen, followed by their effectiveness on administration. This volume of manuscripts has been of great research interest to scholars from different schools of thought since its publication. It has also been argued that the textual interpretations of the manuscripts are debatable and should be open for discussion. The aim of this dissertation is therefore to address some of the questions raised.

This dissertation comprises two main sections: the first section sets out my own readings and interpretations of the text, whilst the second presents a detailed historical analysis. Chapters two and three of this dissertation examine the palaeographic and textual issues concerning “Zi Fan Zi Yu” and “Duke Wen of Jin entered Jin” respectively. I will first identify the views and interpretations suggested by scholars across a wide spectrum of schools, and then give further evidence upon their views in order to support and strengthen the existing research. By making references to relevant historical events, Chapter four aims to compare the two manuscripts with the rare books that are in circulation. As the relevant history to the manuscripts is not complete, my research will fill the vital gap about the history of Jin. The rare books and the two manuscripts will be cross-referenced and will also be used to verify the integrity of current accounts.

This dissertation will make extensive use of rare books as well as other relevant silk slips to analyse the two manuscripts. By dealing with the recently uncovered manuscripts and applying textual restoration, I hope to produce a supplement to the research that has been done. I also hope the results of this study will help readers understand “Zi Fan Zi Yu” and “Duke Wen of Jin entered Jin”. Ultimately, this is a dissertation which aims at improving our understanding of the different aspects of Chinese palaeography as well as the forgotten history of Jin.