A Preliminary Study of the Western Zhou Building Foundations at Yuntang in Fufeng, Shaanxi Xu Lianggao Wang Wei Keywords: Yuntang in Zhouyuan Western Zhou building foundation ancestral temple From autumn 1999 through the year 2000, Zhouyuan Unquestionably, F1 was the main hall of the whole Archaeological Team excavated a set of Western Zhou complex. It was located in the central position with the building foundations, which was well preserved and largest platform and size. The first step of platform is 22 uniquely designed. It is significantly valuable for the m in length, if we count its length between the outer research on the ritual system of the Western Zhou edges of the first raises of the steps before the eastern and Dynasty. We here by try to make a preliminary study on western gates; the full length of the platform is 23.43 m. its structure and function with reference of historical The width of the intruding portions on eastern and west- literature. ern ends is 16.50 m, and the central portion, 13.10 m. The remains of houses F1, F2, F3, F8 and the In total, 37 large column bases were found on the enclosing wall formed a complete building complex in top of the platform, distributed in some given rule. From which the F1 was the main hall at the north end of the the columniation, we can roughly know the basic plan of central axis. F2 and F3 were set on the two sides of the this hall. central axis symmetrically. F8 is to the south of F1, and Bases Nos. 9 –12, 15, 19, 22, 26 –29, 17, 20, and 24 the enclosing wall was linking to its both sides. The east formed a spacious room, about 12 by 9 m. It was part of this complex was dug away by local residents but we arranged in the center of the platform and should be the still can reconstruct it based on the extant traces (Fig. 1). “Tang” -central chamber. A ring of smaller rooms were F5 is located to the west of this complex; from the built around this central chamber, which should be stratigraphical relation, we know that it was built at the “Shi” -common rooms. same time with the F1 complex, and from positions, we “Tang 堂”is named“Taishi 太室,”“Taishi 太 can get the conclusion that F5 and the F1 complex were 室”or“Tianshi 天室”in bronze inscriptions. It is designed and built as a unified set of buildings. recorded in“Luo Gao 洛诰”(The Announcement Con- Analyzed from the stratigraphical relationship and cerning Luo) of Shangshu 尚书 (Shu Jing, Book of unearthed pottery wares, we dated this set of buildings Documents) that“王入太室 (The King entered to the late stage of the Western Zhou Dynasty. Taishi, and held the Guan Ceremony-poured out the libation on the ground),”the“Taishi”was annotated I. Denominations and Functions of the Parts by Wang Su 王肃 as“ The central chamber of Qingmiao of the Architectural Complex (ancestral temple).” The inscription on the ding-tripod In the present paper, we mainly consulted the of Ge-you-cong ( 攸从鼎铭) has the content of“王 historical records about the nominations of the parts of 在周康宫、辟太室 (the King was in the Kang Palace the buildings and the activities held by ancient people in and entered the Taishi),”on the dui-cooker of Yi (伊 relevant parts of certain buildings to study the recovered 敦),“王格穆太室 Wang ge Mu Taishi (the King entered building remains. the Taishi of King Mu).”“Tang”was the center of the 1. The parts of the Main Hall whole complex of ancestral temple and Hall of Enlight- 176 Chinese Archaeology N 0 10 M Fig. 1 Denominations of the parts of the Western Zhou architectural complex at Yuntang ened Rule and the location of holding ceremonies and Citizens in the Ceremony and Ritual) that“射自楹间 banquets. The archery is practiced between the two ‘Ying’.”The “Ying 楹.”The bases Nos. 16 and 23 on the space between the two Ying and nearby floor was eastern and western sides of the central axis should be important place in the“Tang”where the host received the two“Ying.”In Yili Shigong 仪礼释宫 (The Com- the guests and held rituals and ceremonies. mentary of Terms on Palaces and Temples Mentioned in “Xu 序.” The two side walls and nearby floor were the Ceremony and Ritual) written by Li Rugui 李如圭, “Xu.” It was explained by Xu Shen 许慎 in Shuowen 说 we can find this record:“堂之上，东西有楹 There are 文 (Explanation and Study of Principles of Composition two Ying on the east and west of Tang.” The note for this of Characters) that“序，东西墙也 Xu, the eastern and sentence is ‘Ying’ is column. In the ancient times, the western walls.” It was said in Chaomiao Gongshi Kao roofs are covered on walls built of tamped earth to make 朝庙宫室考 (Notes on the Courts, Temples, and Palaces) houses; only two columns were erected on ‘Tang.’ It that 堂上东西墙曰序，序东为东夹室，西为西夹室 was recorded in the chapter“ Jixi Li” of Yili 仪礼·既 The eastern and western walls on ‘Tang’ were called 夕礼 (the Rituals on the Eve of Funeral in the Ceremony ‘Xu,’ the chamber to the east of eastern Xu is eastern and Ritual) that“正棺于两楹间，用夷床… place the ‘Jiashi (flanking chamber)’ and to the west, western coffin right in the middle of the two Ying on Yichuang ‘Jiashi’.”In the chapter“Xiang Yinjiu Li”of Yili 仪 (platform)…”and in the chapter“Xiangshe Li” of Yili 礼·乡饮酒礼 (the Wine-Feasting Ceremony of Com- 仪礼·乡射礼 (The Archery Ceremony of Common mon Citizens), it is recorded that“主人坐奠爵于序 Volume 3 177 端… the host sits and holds the jue-wine vessel at the and descending. end of Xu.” Xu was mainly the places to display the Ce Jie 侧阶 (Side Steps) and Dong Chui 东垂 and ceremonial utensils. Xi Chui 西垂. The steps attached to the eastern and “Shi 室” was built behind the“Tang.” Jiang Yong western edges of the F1 platform should be the eastern 江永 wrote in his Yili Shigong Zengzhu 仪礼释宫增注 and western Ce Jie (Side Steps). They were the marks of (Enriched Commentary of Terms on Palaces and Temples eastern and western Chui, which were the places on the Mentioned in the Ceremony and Ritual):“堂后室居中， sides of the“Tang”under the eaves and near the steps. 左右有房 behind the ‘Tang,’ ‘Shi’ was in the middle The steps on the north side should also be Ce Jie. It was and flanked by ‘Fang’ on both sides.”“Shi”was the recorded in the chapter“Zaji”of Yili 仪礼·杂记 place to set the memorial shrines of the worshipped (Miscellany) that“ when the wife (of the Lord) comes, ancestors. enter from Weimen 闱门 (The small gate of the court), “Fang 房”is explained in Shuowen as“房，室 and ascends from the Ce Jie.”Annotated as“Ce Jie, 在旁也 on the sides of ‘Shi’.”In Shiming 释名 also called Pang Jie (Side Steps).” (Explication of Names),“Fang”was explained as“旁 Eastern and Western Xiang 厢. Also called eastern 也，室之两旁也 means ‘Side,’ the two side chambers and western Tang. Guo Pu 郭璞 annotated the“Shi of Shi.”The eastern Fang was also called Left Fang Gong”of Erya 尔雅·释宫 (The Explanations on the and the western Fang, Right Fang. It was recorded in the Terms of the Palace) (Literary Expositor) that“夹室前 chapter“Dashe”of Yili 仪礼·大射 (The Archery 堂谓之厢 the Tang in front of the Jiashi were called Ceremony of Officials) that“荐脯醢由左房 the ba- ‘Xiang’.”In the chapter“Shigong”of Yili 仪礼·释 con and meat pulp are served from the Left Fang,”and 宫 (The Commentary of Terms on Palaces and Temples in the book Pinli 聘礼 (The Ceremony of Receiving Mentioned in the Ceremony and Ritual), it was recorded Officials from other States)“君使卿皮弁还至于馆…, that“夹室之前曰厢，亦曰东西堂 the front of Jiashi (宾）退负右房而立 when the messenger of the host was called ‘Xiang,’ or eastern and western ‘Tang.’” The lord wearing leather headwear returned to the guesthouse, sites of F2 and F3 just meet the positions of eastern and … (the guest official) walked backward until he leaned western ‘Tang’, and there were seemly traces of steps to against the Right Fang.”From these records, we can the eastern edge of F2 and western edge of F3. To have infer that the eastern Fang was the place where the food or not to have Xiang was related to the nature of the was served and the western Fang was the place for the building. Also in the chapter“Shi Gong” of Erya (The guests to rest. Explanations on the Terms of the Palace) we can find “Jiashi 夹室”was also called“个 Ge.” In the that“室有东西厢曰庙，无东西厢有室曰寝 the halls book Shiming it was explained that“夹室在堂两头， having eastern and western side chambers were called 故名夹也 Jiashi were on the two sides of Tang, so they Miao (Temple), having no side chambers but rear cham- were called ‘Jia’ (in between).”Jiashi was used to ber were called Qin (Sleeping chamber).” store the memorial tablets of the successive ancestors. Liu . It was explained by Xu Shen in Shuowen Zuo Steps 阼阶 (Hosts’ Steps) and Bin Steps 宾阶 that“屋檐滴水为 ，其地谓之 the rain water drip- (Guests’ Steps). To set two steps on east and west in the ping from the eave was named Liu, and the ground on front of main hall was the common rule of the high- which it dripped on was also called Liu.”This implies ranked architecture in the Zhou Dynasty.