中英雙語話史記 第25期:西周的社會與經濟

Zhou Dynasty

周朝

Social and Economy

西周的社會與經濟

The Western Zhou made a further achievement in social economy.

西周在社會經濟方面取得了進一步的成就。

Slaves were popularly exploited in pursuit of the production of greater surpluses, thereby creating wealth for their owners.

爲了獲得更多的生產剩餘，奴隸總是被剝削來爲他們的主人創造更多的財富。

Handcrafts progressed in this period and the bronze industry was especially important.

手工藝在這段時期發展進步，而青銅工業是最重要的。

Besides the bronze workshops controlled by the central government, the small kingdoms also had foundries of their own.

除去被中央政府管理的青銅器作坊，小國家同樣有他們自己的鑄造廠。

Bronze products greatly increased in quality, quantity and variety so that their use covered nearly all aspects of life.

青銅製品的質量、數量和種類大幅上漲以至於生活的每一個方面都被其覆蓋。

The Western Zhou Chariot Burial Pit unearthed near Xi’an exemplifies the high technical standard of bronze production of this period.

在西安被開採出的西周戰車埋葬坑說明了這一時期青銅製造的高技術水平。

The development of the bronze industry also promoted the prosperity of other industries.

青銅產業的發展同樣促進了其他工業的繁榮。

In agriculture, iron tools and the coupling-plough were brought into use for the first time, this greatly enhanced productivity.

在農業上，鐵具和耦合犁第一次被投入使用，它們極大地提高了生產力。

Bazaars appeared in some larger towns, where silk, weapons, cattle as well as slaves were traded.

在大一些的城鎮，市場出現了，在那裏可以買賣絲綢、武器、四輪馬車和奴隸。

In addition, script became more widely used.

除此之外，文字得到了更加廣泛的使用。

People not only engraved inscriptions on oracle bones, but also engraved epigraphs on thousands of bronze utensils, recording the social life of that time.

人們不再僅僅將銘文刻在龜甲獸骨上，而是將銘文刻在數以千計的青銅器皿上，這些銘文記錄了那時的社會生活。