20 MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 
Ill. THE ROYAL EDICT CONFIRMING THE DOMAIN OF SAN.* 
Upon the following pages is shown a fac-simile of this edict, as given by Juan Ytian 
in his work on Old Inscriptions, together with a transliteration into the modern char- 
acter, and an attempt at translation.” According to Juan Ytian this remarkable text 
of three hundred and fifty-seven symbols was engraved upon a brass tripod originally 
in the collection of the Hsti (4) family of Yang Chow (#8 H}) but later (A. D. 1803) 
in the collection of one Hung (j}#), presumably of the same city. It is accepted as 
genuine by the scholar Juan Ytian, who seems to have been a discriminating student of 
old inscriptions. He suggests that the Edict may date back to the reign of Wu Wang 
HX £ (B. C. 1122). The style of this inscription is in semi-cursive character with 
but few carefully executed symbols. Contractions and variations are numerous, as 
will appear by comparing the symbols which occur more than once. 
Some of the symbols show an arrangement of their component parts quite dif- 
ferent from that of their present form, such as Fae for sph 5; & for # & for xq. 
Others are still in the pictographic state, such as: D (4), “moon” ; Ea (iB), 
“horse”; p (F), “son”; gf (KJ), “eye”; % (Z), “stemmed dish” (here a man’s 
name) ; & (2), “capital city,” showing the tower over the city gate; # (#), 
“well,” with the mouth still in place; and a fairly good pair of doors in #4 (P4), 
“ gate.” 
The symbol zi “public” occurs thrice in such strange forms (% a #) that it 
raises a question as to its derivation from 4% wi unless 7 (old form of wé) has become 
mere scroll-work in the old cursive style. 
The text may be regarded as rightly belonging to the early date ascribed to it, 
and I see no reason for suspecting it as a forgery. 
We know from history that Wu Wang established the Chou Dynasty |g, B. C. 
1122; that he set nine ministers over his realm, one of whom was San I-shéng 
(ik H 4). 
The instrument is executed in the form of an indenture, with description of 
land and names of adjacent landholders as in modern Chinese deeds. The unusual 
feature is the oath taken by the king and the go-betweens to secure the rights of the 
clan or family of San. An incidental proof of antiquity is the form of the date, 
which shows the cycle-signs in use for days of the month” instead of the later usage 
26 For convenience this may be designated ‘‘ The San Edict.”’ 
* This is but a tentative translation, for a minute study of local geography and history is necessary to throw light 
upon many points otherwise obscure. 
The first year of the 26th cycle coincides with B. C. 1137. This was designated by @ 5. B. C. 112. was 
z Op. Here we find G Op, which is the fifty-second year of the cycle and falls outside the reign of Wu Wang 
(B. C. 1122-1115). Either the assumed reign is incorrect, or else the date-mark applies to a day and not to a year. 
