The Editing of Western Zhou Appointment Inscriptions and the Nobles’ Memory

Western Zhou Nobles composed appointment inscriptions according to a specific pattern after being assigned with new titles or jobs. Therefore, appointment inscriptions contain both the owners’ opinions and concepts hidden behind the inscription pattern. The concepts reflect social memories, social structures and values of Western Zhou nobles. This thesis applied the method of “text analysis” brought up by Ming-ke Wang to study the appointment inscriptions from the perspective of social memory. Bronze inscriptions acted like reminders of social memories: they reminded descendants stories inscribed on the vessels and emphasized their importance. Time, place, the appointment ritual, the appointment document, the saluting ritual and the dedication constitute the pattern of appointment inscriptions, helping descendants to memorize. The main information in appointment inscriptions are attendants and the bestowed gifts. The king is the absolute attendants. Youzue(右者) was the senior official who acted like the witness and the approval from the noble networks. Shi(史) were the king’s spokesman so he could sometimes be deleted. Gifts represent the appointee’s status, the king’s favor, the owing relationship between the king and the appointee and the precise goods inside the family. The appointment inscriptions played a part in the family memory. The descendants learned noble networks and ascendants’ achievement to success and maintain the family’s status. Also, since nobles shared same appointing experience and social networks, they shared same kind of social memory. Carried by appointment inscriptions, the family structure, the social networks and the emphasis of political achievement spread through families and generations, strengthening the social structure of Western Zhou.