Oracle bones

Definition

Oracle bones are pieces of bone or turtle shell used in ancient China for divination, specifically during the Shang dynasty. They are significant as they represent one of the earliest forms of writing in China and were used by royal diviners to communicate with ancestors and deities, playing a crucial role in decision-making processes related to warfare, agriculture, and health.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Oracle bones date back to the late Shang dynasty, around 1200 BCE, and were discovered mainly at the archaeological site of Yinxu, which served as the Shang capital.
2. The inscriptions on oracle bones are considered the earliest known form of Chinese writing, providing crucial insights into the language and culture of early Chinese civilization.
3. Diviners would heat metal rods and apply them to the oracle bones to create cracks, interpreting these cracks as answers to posed questions.
4. The questions recorded on oracle bones often pertained to royal decisions, agricultural practices, military endeavors, and inquiries about health or fortune.
5. The use of oracle bones declined after the Shang dynasty as the Zhou dynasty established new practices for divination and record-keeping.

Review Questions

• How did oracle bones function as a tool for divination in Shang society?
  • In Shang society, oracle bones served as a critical tool for divination by allowing royal diviners to communicate with ancestors and deities. They would inscribe questions onto the bones or shells before heating them with a hot rod. The resulting cracks were interpreted as divine responses, guiding decisions related to warfare, agriculture, and health. This practice not only highlighted the importance of ancestral worship but also demonstrated the intersection of spirituality and governance in Shang culture.
• Discuss the significance of oracle bone inscriptions in understanding Shang dynasty urban planning and governance.
  • Oracle bone inscriptions provide vital evidence for understanding the governance and urban planning of the Shang dynasty. The records often contained information about royal activities, military campaigns, and agricultural decisions, indicating how rulers used divination as part of their administrative practices. Furthermore, these inscriptions suggest that urban centers like Yinxu were organized around both political power and ritualistic practices, showing a blend of authority and spirituality that shaped city life during this period.
• Evaluate how oracle bones have contributed to modern understanding of ancient Chinese religion and cultural practices.
  • Oracle bones have significantly enriched modern understanding of ancient Chinese religion and cultural practices by providing a direct link to the beliefs and values of the Shang dynasty. Through their inscriptions, historians have gained insights into the importance of ancestor worship and divination in decision-making processes. The evidence found on these artifacts illustrates how deeply spiritual beliefs were woven into daily life and governance. Additionally, they have allowed scholars to trace the evolution of written language in China, offering a clearer picture of how early civilizations interacted with their spiritual beliefs.

Related terms

Divination: The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means, often involving rituals and various tools like oracle bones.

Ancestral Worship: The veneration of deceased ancestors, which was an important aspect of Shang society and influenced practices like the use of oracle bones for communication with the spirit world.

Script: A system of writing used for communication, with oracle bone script being one of the earliest forms found in China that documented royal activities and divinations.