Koukouki - Koukouki

A Chinese document on the structure, dimensions, and manufacturing or construction methods of weapons (halberds, swords, bows, arrows, etc.), chariots, ceremonial utensils, musical instruments, containers, palace utensils, cities, etc., as well as techniques for leather processing, thread-drawing, and dyeing. The editor is unknown. It has survived as one of the chapters of the "Lis of Zhou." During the Western Han period, the ban on books that had been in place since the time of the First Emperor of Qin was lifted, and five volumes of the "Lis of Zhou" (the original name of the "Lis of Zhou") were presented to King Xian of Hehan Liu De (reigned 155 BC - 130 BC) by members of the public, but the sixth chapter, "Down Officials," was already missing, and it is said that King Wang completed this with the "Kaogongji," and it was originally a separate book from the "Lis of Zhou." Based on research into the contents and terminology, as well as recent archaeological excavations, it is believed to have been recorded by someone from the state of Qi in the late Spring and Autumn period, and is a valuable resource regarding handicraft techniques from the pre-Qin period.

[Kazuhiko Miyajima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

武器（戟(げき)・剣・弓・矢など）・車輿(しゃよ)・礼器・楽器・容器・宮器・城市などの構造・寸法規格・製作または建築の方法や、皮革加工・練糸・染色などの技法に関する中国の文献。編者不詳。『周礼(しゅらい)』中の一篇(ぺん)として伝存する。前漢時代、秦(しん)の始皇帝以来の禁書令が解かれ、河漢献王劉徳(りゅうとく)（在位前155～前130）に民間から『周官』（『周礼』の原名）5篇が献じられたが、すでに第6篇「冬官」が欠けており、王は『考工記』でこれを補ったと伝えられ、もとは『周礼』とは別の独立した書物であった。内容・用語の考証や近年の考古学的発掘研究によれば、春秋時代後期の斉(せい)の国の人が記録したと推定され、先秦時代の手工業技術に関する貴重な資料である。

［宮島一彦］

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