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甘汝誠、老冠祥

撮要

古代中東焚香所用的香料，主要來自遠東：印度次大陸、馬來半島、馬六甲和香料群島，依賴船舶，沿著「海上絲綢之路」，穿梭東西亞洲之間運輸。聖經所提及的香料其實也銷行中國，中國古藉提供有關這些香料的資料，恐怕比其他地區記錄為多。中國古藉中提到的「頇勃梨他」(Khelbanita，和合本譯作喜利比拿）是聖經以外唯一提及此種香料的地方。作者從香料的海上運輸路線，進而探討東西亞間古代海上運輸模式，他們相信所羅門時代聖殿所用的香料，除乳香和沒藥外，都是間接地從遠東經印度（斯里蘭卡）、也門（聖經的示巴國）運來的；從羅馬時代開始，直航遠東才漸次可行。

ABSTRACT

The incenses used in incense-burning in the ancient Near East mainly came from Indian Sub-Continent, Malaysia, Malacca and Spice Islands. Junks sailing along the so-called Silk-Route-on-the -Sea transported the cargoes between the East and West Asia. The incenses mentioned in the Bible were also merchandises in China. Chinese ancient records provide more information on the incenses than any records in other languages. In fact, the Chinese record of biblical Khelbanita (Galbanum) is the only record that can be found about this incense outside of the Old Testament. Having examined the ancient sea routes between the East and West Asia, the authors opine that the incenses, except frankincense and myrrh, used in the Solomonic Temple, were imported from the Far East via India (Sri Lanka) and Yemen (biblical Sheba). Direct contact to the Far East became possible only from the Roman Period.

原載於《教牧期刊》第8期及《建道學刊》第13期合刊（1999年12月），頁25-68。