Abstract:Meng-gui and Ban-gui are standard vessels during the reign of King Mu in the Western Zhou Dynasty, both the inscriptions of which described the Duke Mao ’s expedition against the rebelling Rong tribes in the Eastern region.No consistent explanations have been reached on the meaning of “Wuxu ”in the inscription of Meng-gui.This article got the conclusion that “Wuxu ”is equal to “ Gurong ”in the inscription of Ban-gui,ie.King Yan of Xu who simultaneously reigned during that of King Mu in the Western Zhou Dynasty as recorded in the written accounts.The appellation “Wuxu ”shall be theZi(courtesy name) of King Yan,and “ Gu ” might be his name,both of which drived from the fact that the King suffered from knee disease,and “Yan ” shall be his Hao(style name).It is recorded in the written accounts that King Yan of Xu “possessed tendon but no bone”,therefore was capable of lean backward rather than forward,such a record coincided with that of the inscriptions.
Key Words:Meng-gui;Ban-gui;King Mu of the Western Zhou Dynasty;Wuxu;Gurong;King Yan of Xu