Oracle bones

Definition

Oracle bones are pieces of shell or bone, particularly from the shoulder blades of oxen or the plastrons of turtles, used in ancient China for divination and communication with ancestors. These artifacts played a crucial role in the Shang dynasty, serving as the earliest known form of Chinese writing and providing insights into the beliefs, politics, and daily life of early Chinese civilization.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Oracle bones date back to around 1200 BCE and are among the earliest evidence of written Chinese language.
2. The inscriptions on oracle bones often include questions posed to ancestors about future events, such as weather, crop yields, and military endeavors.
3. These bones were heated until they cracked, with the patterns of cracks interpreted as answers from the divine or ancestral spirits.
4. The use of oracle bones marks a significant development in the history of writing in China, as they represent a transition from prehistoric pictographs to more complex forms of written language.
5. Excavations at sites like Anyang have revealed thousands of oracle bones, showcasing their importance in Shang society and providing a wealth of historical data.

Review Questions

• How did oracle bones contribute to our understanding of early Chinese civilization and its practices?
  • Oracle bones are critical for understanding early Chinese civilization because they provide direct evidence of Shang society's religious practices, governance, and concerns. The inscriptions reveal how people communicated with ancestors to seek guidance on important decisions and events. Additionally, these artifacts reflect the development of early writing systems and give us insights into the culture, beliefs, and daily life during the Shang dynasty.
• Discuss the role of divination in Shang society and how oracle bones facilitated this practice.
  • In Shang society, divination was an essential practice that allowed leaders to communicate with ancestors and seek guidance on various matters. Oracle bones served as a primary tool for this divination process; questions were inscribed on the bones before they were heated, causing cracks that were interpreted as answers. This practice not only influenced political decisions but also reinforced social hierarchies and cultural beliefs about the afterlife and ancestral reverence.
• Evaluate the significance of oracle bones in the broader context of ancient Chinese history and their impact on subsequent dynasties.
  • Oracle bones hold immense significance in ancient Chinese history as they mark the beginnings of recorded history in China through written language. The practice established by the Shang dynasty set a precedent for future dynasties regarding governance, communication with deities, and record-keeping. The continuity and evolution of these practices influenced later Chinese cultures, contributing to a rich tradition of divination and ancestor worship that persisted throughout subsequent dynasties and remains a part of Chinese cultural identity today.

Related terms

Shang Dynasty: The Shang Dynasty was one of the earliest Chinese dynasties, ruling from around 1600 to 1046 BCE, known for its advances in metallurgy, art, and writing.

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

Chinese Characters: Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese, with oracle bones being some of the earliest examples of this writing system.