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The dictionary Ci Hai defines
the lock as "a sealing device that
requires a key to be opened". On the
other hand, the dictionary Ci Yuan
defines the lock as "a device used to
bolt doors and chests so to prevent
people from opening them. It was
named jian in the old times, now it is
called suo." The book Shou Wen Jie
Zi further explains: "Suo, iron locks,
locks to the doors."
The Di Guan of Si Men Pian
in Zhou Li (Book of Zhou Rites)
from the Warring States Period
states: "He who is in charge of guan
(tube) and jian (lock) opens and
closes the gate of the state." The
Chapter 27 of Dao Te Jing by Lao
Zi reads: "Good shutting makes no
use of jian (lock), yet nobody can
undo it." The Yu Ling Pian in Li Ji
(Book of Rites) by Dai Sheng from
the Western Han Dynasty contains
the phrase: "In the cold month of
December, maintain the locks and be
cautious with the keys."
《辭海》對「鎖」的解釋
為『必須用鑰匙方能開脫的封
緘器』，《辭源》解釋為『所
以扃門戶箱篋之具，使人不得
開者，古謂之鍵，今謂之鎖』，
而《說文解字》則解釋為『鎖，
鐵鎖，門鍵也』。
戰國《周禮 ‧ 地官 ‧ 司
門篇》中有『掌授管鍵以啟閉
國門』之句，老子《道德經 ‧
第二十七卷》中有『善閉無關
鍵而不可開』之句，西漢戴圣
的《禮記 ‧ 月令篇》中有『孟
冬之月，修鍵閉，慎管籥』之
句。
‧古書掛鎖 - 三才圖會
Padlock in Illustration of Nature,
Earth, and Human Being