唐・陸龜蒙の『耒耜經』と曲轅犂の成立

Abstract

During the closing years of the Tang dynasty, a book titled Leisi Jing 耒耜經 was written by Lu Guimeng 陸龜蒙, who was originally from the Suzhou region 蘇州. This book, in which are recorded the construction details for the curved-beam plough, is an historically important record of agricultural technology. The curved-beam plough is one type of traditional Chinese square framed plough. This plough's most significant features were the curved beam and the curved metal mould-board. This type of plough was not limited to East Asia but spread to South-East Asia and Europe, and had a significant effecton agricultural reform in those regions. According to traditional theories, this plough is thought to have its origins in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. However, after examining wall paintings and articles buried with the dead, which are related to farming during the period from the Wei Jin era 魏晉 through to the Tang era 唐, it is not possible to say that the above mentioned theories are necessarily correct. Rather, it is possible to conclude that an improvement in the plough developed in the northern regions non-paddy farming belt during the early Tang period. This improved design was introduced into the southern regions paddy belt, where the curved metal mould-board was created.