西周 한어의 “以”자문－≪尙書≫와 金文을 중심으로－

Abstract

There are roughly four usages for “以” the word in Western Zhou Chinese. First it alone can be used as a predicate in a sentence. In this structure it means “depending” or “using”. The meaning of “depending” or “using” are derived from “leading to”. Another three usages are “以” the word plus other verbs. One is that “以” the word plus objectis located before the other verb-object structure. In this essay we refer to as “以＋object＋V＋O” structure. In this structure, the meaning of “以” of “leading to” is extended to “accompanied by” and “depending on”. Later “accompanied to” is extended to “and” and “with”. “depending on” is extended to “using”, “holding”, and “in order to”. Another usage is “…, 以＋V＋O”. This is in the format of brought forward omitted object. Later “可以”, “所以”, “以至”, and other words are all formed in this kind of structure. The third usage is “V＋O＋以＋object”. This structure should be “V＋O, 以＋object” in Western Zhou Chinese. When “以” is after another verb or verb-object structure, it is still an independent clause in Western Zhou Chinese. It is until the Spring and Autumn Period when the structure of “V＋O＋以＋object” was gradually being used. In this structure “以＋object” can be viewed as preposition phrase post. In other words, it is at least until the Spring and Autumn Period when “以” became a postpositive preposition.