中國為什(shen)么把(ba)七日一(yi)周叫"一(yi)星期"呢?

光緒三(san)十一年(1905)，清廷宣布停止鄉(xiang)試、會(hui)試，廢除延續了一千多年的科舉制度，成立"學(xue)部"，袁嘉谷即(ji)奉(feng)命調(diao)入學(xue)部籌建編譯圖(tu)書局，后任(ren)該局首任(ren)局長。

編(bian)譯(yi)(yi)圖書(shu)局(ju)下設編(bian)書(shu)課、譯(yi)(yi)書(shu)課，任(ren)務是研究(jiu)編(bian)寫"統一(yi)國之用"的(de)官定各(ge)(ge)種教材。各(ge)(ge)種教科書(shu)的(de)編(bian)寫中(zhong)(zhong)自然(ran)會遇(yu)到一(yi)個(ge)"新名詞"該怎么處理的(de)問(wen)題。1909年(nian)，編(bian)譯(yi)(yi)圖書(shu)局(ju)設立了一(yi)個(ge)新機構(gou)統一(yi)規(gui)范教科書(shu)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)名詞術語。袁嘉谷親自參加了這(zhe)個(ge)館的(de)工作(zuo)，主(zhu)(zhu)持制(zhi)定了很多統一(yi)的(de)名稱。把(ba)七(qi)日一(yi)周制(zhi)定為中(zhong)(zhong)國自己(ji)的(de)"星期"，就是在袁嘉谷主(zhu)(zhu)持下制(zhi)定的(de)。

現在世界各國通用(yong)一(yi)星期七天的(de)制度。這個制度最(zui)早由君士坦丁大(da)帝(Constantine the Great)制定。他(ta)在公元321年3月7日正式宣布7天為(wei)一(yi)周，這個制度一(yi)直(zhi)沿用(yong)至今(jin)。一(yi)周七天的(de)英文名稱是Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday。

這些名(ming)稱(cheng)最(zui)早起源(yuan)于古巴比倫(Babylon)。公元前7至6世紀，巴比倫人(ren)便有(you)了(le)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)制。他們把一(yi)(yi)個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)月分為4周(zhou)，每(mei)周(zhou)有(you)7天(tian)，即一(yi)(yi)個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)。古巴比倫人(ren)建(jian)造七星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)壇(tan)祭(ji)祀星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)神(shen)(shen)。七星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)壇(tan)分7層，每(mei)層有(you)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)神(shen)(shen)，從上到(dao)下依(yi)此為日(ri)(ri)(ri)、月、火、水、木、金(jin)、土(tu)7個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)神(shen)(shen)。7神(shen)(shen)每(mei)周(zhou)各主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)一(yi)(yi)天(tian)，因此每(mei)天(tian)祭(ji)祀一(yi)(yi)個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)神(shen)(shen)，每(mei)天(tian)都(dou)(dou)以一(yi)(yi)個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)神(shen)(shen)來(lai)命名(ming):太陽神(shen)(shen)沙馬什主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)日(ri)(ri)(ri)，稱(cheng)日(ri)(ri)(ri)耀日(ri)(ri)(ri);月神(shen)(shen)辛(xin)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)一(yi)(yi)，稱(cheng)月耀日(ri)(ri)(ri);火星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)神(shen)(shen)涅爾(er)(er)伽(jia)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)二，稱(cheng)火耀日(ri)(ri)(ri);水星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)神(shen)(shen)納布主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)三(san)，稱(cheng)水耀日(ri)(ri)(ri);木星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)神(shen)(shen)馬爾(er)(er)都(dou)(dou)克主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)四，稱(cheng)木耀日(ri)(ri)(ri);金(jin)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)神(shen)(shen)伊什塔(ta)爾(er)(er)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)五，稱(cheng)金(jin)耀日(ri)(ri)(ri);土(tu)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)神(shen)(shen)尼努爾(er)(er)達主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)期(qi)(qi)六，稱(cheng)土(tu)耀日(ri)(ri)(ri)。