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F u r t h e r m o r e , C h i n e s e
characters "
籥
(yueh),
鑰
(yao),
管
(guan),
管籥
(guan yueh)" were
originated from fifes or flutes, they
inherited the meaning of keys and
locks.
Ancient locks with special functions
and particular names were mentioned
in some historical literature. For
instance, Hou Han Shu Cheng Fa
Pian (Book of Post-Han Dynasty,
Episode on Punishment) mentioned:
"Lang-Dang lock" (chain-and-
shackle lock) as a padlock with
me t a l c h a i n s f o r l o c k i ng t h e
prisoners. Some ancient locks were
named after their peculiar shapes.
In the tenth century, Du Guang-Ting
in his Lu Yi Ji mentioned a padlock
called Solomon’s seal lock. The
lock was so named probably because
its appearance resembled the tubby
root of polygonatum officinale, and
the lock includes a compressible and
extendable metal sheet.
Based on various names mentioned
above, drawings in some literatures,
and existing hardware, it is believed
that ancient Chinese locks should be
mechanical padlocks.
此外，漢字中的「籥、鑰、
管、管籥」代表著鼓笛或橫笛，
亦代表了鎖與鑰匙。
在部份文獻中，還記載有
不同稱謂與特別功能的古鎖；
如《後漢書 ‧ 懲罰篇》中提及
「鋃鐺鎖」，為結合金屬鏈的
掛鎖，用以鎖人犯。古鎖也有
因其外形而有特別稱呼者；如
十世紀時杜光庭的《錄異記》
中曾提及掛鎖可稱為「萎蕤
瑣」，因為此鎖形同此種植物
的管狀根莖，且該鎖含有連為
一體的金屬片，可自由壓縮或
伸張，故有此稱謂。
根據古籍中所使用的稱謂
與所繪製的圖案，以及出土與
現存的古鎖來判斷，古早中國
鎖具應為機械式的掛鎖。