How the ancient Chinese used 'oracle bones' to tell the future

Oracle bones are one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Ancient China.

They are inscribed animal bones or turtle shells that were used in divination practices during the Shang dynasty, which lasted from 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE.

The oracle bones are not only an important aspect of ancient Chinese culture, but they also provide insight into the early development of Chinese writing and language.

The oracle bones were used in divination practices during the Shang dynasty. The Shang people believed that they could communicate with their ancestors through the bones.

They would ask questions about the future, such as whether a crop would be successful or whether a battle would be won.

They would then heat the bones until they cracked, and interpret the cracks to answer their questions.

To use the oracle bones, the Shang diviners would first prepare the bone by drilling a small hole into it.

They would then apply heat to the bone until it cracked, and would interpret the pattern of cracks as an answer to their question.

Before heating the bone, the diviner would inscribe the question onto the bone using a brush and ink.

The inscriptions were typically written in the Shang script, which is the earliest known form of Chinese writing.

The script is made up of small pictographs, which represent words or concepts.

After the bone was heated, the diviner would examine the pattern of cracks and interpret them as a response to the question.

The diviner would then write the answer onto the bone using the same brush and ink.

The inscriptions on the oracle bones provide valuable historical information, as they record the questions that were asked and the answers that were given.

 Some of the common questions that were asked on the oracle bones included whether a particular undertaking, such as a military campaign or a farming season, would be successful, or whether an illness would be cured.

The questions could also be related to more personal matters, such as whether a marriage proposal would be accepted or whether a pregnancy would result in a healthy child.

The discovery of oracle bones occurred in the early 20th century, but their significance was not fully understood until later.

In 1899, a scholar named Wang Yirong acquired a collection of inscribed bones from a local drugstore.

He noticed that some of the inscriptions resembled ancient Chinese writing, and he recognized that they were important historical artifacts.

However, it was not until 1928 that the true significance of the oracle bones was discovered.

In that year, archaeologist Wang Guowei unearthed a cache of oracle bones in the village of Xiaotun, near the city of Anyang in central China.

The bones were found in a pit, along with pottery and other artifacts. The discovery was one of the most significant archaeological finds in Chinese history.

The oracle bones also provide valuable historical information. The inscriptions record the names of Shang kings and their family members, as well as details about their daily lives.

They also provide insight into the religious and social practices of the Shang dynasty.

The discovery of the oracle bones has had a significant impact on our understanding of Ancient China.

It has shed light on the early development of Chinese language and writing, as well as the religious and social practices of the Shang dynasty.

Today, the oracle bones are considered to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Chinese history.