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古中國的鎖具為機械式掛
鎖，大部份是以鑰匙開啟的簧
片構造鎖，少部份是不須鑰匙
的文字組合鎖。古鎖的特徵很
多，主要者包括：鎖具的類型、
鎖具的外形、鎖體的雕花、鎖
體的材質、鎖具的構造等；而
簧片鎖更有以下幾項重要的特
點：彈簧片的構形、鑰匙的數
目與鑰匙頭的形狀、鑰匙孔的
位置與形狀、鎖具的開啟方式
等。簧片構造鎖大多用銅或鐵
做成鎖體與鎖栓，鎖栓上有數
片分離的彈簧；鑰匙進入鎖體
後，能擠壓鉗制張開的彈簧片，
使鎖栓與鎖體分離。
Ancient Chinese locks are
mechanical padlocks, mostly key-
operated bronze locks with splitting
springs and partially keyless letter-
combinat ion locks. The major
features of ancient locks are the
t ype s o f l ocks , t he shape s o f
locks, the engravings of locks, the
materials of locks, and the structure
of locks. And, the characteristics
of the splitting spring locks are
the configuration of the splitting
springs, the shape of key-heads and
the number of keys, the location and
shape of keyholes, and the opening of
locks. Typical ancient Chinese locks
are splitting spring locks opened by
keys. The lock-body and the sliding
bolt are mostly made of bronze or
iron and several splitting springs are
attached to the sliding bolt. Once
the key is inserted, the splitting
springs are squeezed down and the
sliding bolt could be released from
the lock-body.