金文是商周时期铸刻在青铜器上的铭文，是在甲骨文基础上发展起来的一种文字。古代青铜器的种类很多，一般分为礼器与乐器两大类，乐器以钟为代表，礼器以鼎为代表，故前人将钟鼎作为古代青铜器的总称，因此金文也称为“钟鼎文”。金文应用的年代起于商代，盛行于周代，下至秦灭六国，有800多年。据统计，金文有3700多字，其中能认识的字有2420个，较甲骨文略多。金文的内容多是关于当时祀典、赐命、诏书、征战、围猎、盟约等活动或事件的记录，反映了当时的社会生活。

Bronze script refers to writings inscribed on bronze ware in the Shang and Zhou dynasties; it was developed from inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells. There were many sub-types of bronze ware in ancient China, but they were roughly under two main categories: sacrificial vessels and musical instruments. Sacrificial vessels were represented by tripod or quadripod cauldrons, and musical instruments, by chimes. Therefore, ancient bronze ware was formerly known as "chimes and cauldrons," and bronze script used to be called "chime and cauldron inscriptions." The use of bronze script began in the Shang Dynasty, grew very popular in the Zhou Dynasty, and declined in the Qin Dynasty, lasting over 800 years. Bronze script contained over 3,700 characters, of which 2,420 are now intelligible, slightly outnumbering the intelligible characters on bones and tortoise shells. Bronze script was mainly records of sacrificial ceremonies, bestowals, announcements of decrees, declarations of war, hunting expeditions, and pledges of allegiance. It reflected life in those historical periods.

引例 Citation：

◎夫鼎有铭，铭者，自名也。自名，以称扬其先祖之美，而明著之后世者也。（《礼记·祭统》）

鼎上面多铸刻铭文，“铭”的意思是给自己留名。给自己留名，实际是为了颂扬祖先的美德，让其堂堂正正传给后世。

Epigraphs are often inscribed on tripods to leave a name in history and, further, to extol the virtues of one's ancestors so that their reputations can be proudly passed onto posterity. (The Book of Rites)

推荐：教育部 国家语委

供稿：北京外国语大学 外语教学与研究出版社

责任编辑：钱耐安