Oracle Bone, Shang Dynasty

Summary

This video takes us to the Shanghai Museum, where we explore an ancient Oracle Bone from the Shang Dynasty. These bones, typically ox scapulas or tortoise shells, were inscribed with questions to divine the future. The script introduces the divination process and the significance of these inscriptions, some of which are still recognizable as Chinese characters today. The conversation highlights how these bones reveal the evolution of writing, ancestor worship, and the development of centralized power in ancient China, offering a glimpse into early Chinese history and communication with the gods.

Takeaways

• 📝 The Oracle Bones mark the beginnings of writing in ancient China, offering insight into early Chinese civilization.
• 🐂 The Oracle Bone in the Shanghai Museum is made from an ox scapula, with characters carved into it from right to left.
• 📜 About 40% of the Oracle Bone script is decipherable and recognizable as early Chinese characters.
• ⏳ There are approximately 200,000 Oracle Bones that have been discovered, preserving over 3,000 years of history.
• 🔮 The Oracle Bones were used for divination, where a heated rod was applied to inscribed bones, and the resulting cracks were interpreted.
• 👑 Many questions inscribed on Oracle Bones were addressed to Shangdi, the deified ancestor of the Shang Dynasty's royal family.
• 🚜 The inscriptions often concerned practical issues, like when to plant crops, and ritual questions such as when to perform sacrifices.
• ⛩️ Ancestor worship was a central aspect of Shang Dynasty beliefs, though it shifted in the following Zhou Dynasty.
• 🐢 Oracle Bones were often made from ox scapula or tortoise shells, both significant materials in Shang religious rituals.
• ✍️ Early Chinese writing was functional, used to communicate with the gods, and later evolved into the art form of calligraphy.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Oracle Bone in ancient Chinese history?

The Oracle Bone is significant because it represents the earliest form of writing in ancient China. It provides insight into how ancient Chinese civilizations recorded their concerns and communicated with the divine.

What material is the Oracle Bone made from, and how is it used?

The Oracle Bone is made from an ox scapula, or shoulder blade. It was inscribed with questions, and a heated metal rod was used to create cracks on the bone. The patterns of these cracks were interpreted by diviners to predict the future.

What percentage of Oracle Bone characters are still recognizable today?

About 40% of the characters inscribed on Oracle Bones are still recognizable as Chinese characters today.

Who were the questions on the Oracle Bones directed to?

The questions were directed to Shangdi, the deified ancestor of the Shang royal family, during the Shang Dynasty.

What types of questions were inscribed on Oracle Bones?

The questions varied from mundane concerns to ritualistic matters. Examples include when to perform sacrifices or rites of worship, and questions about agriculture, such as the best time to plant for a good harvest.

How did the practice of ancestor worship change after the Shang Dynasty?

Ancestor worship, which was central to the Shang Dynasty, changed with the Zhou Dynasty. The Zhou introduced a different concept of the divine, moving away from Shangdi, the Shang's specific ancestor god.

Besides ox bones, what other materials were used for Oracle Bones?

In addition to ox bones, tortoise shells were also used as a medium for Oracle Bones, likely due to the tortoise's significance in Chinese mythology.

Why is it important to note that writing may have existed on other materials besides bones and shells?

It's important because while bones and shells have survived due to their durability, writing may have also existed on more perishable materials, which have not survived the test of time.

What is the nature of the writing on Oracle Bones, and how did it evolve?

The writing on Oracle Bones was likely more pictographic in nature at first, evolving into more recognizable Chinese characters. Eventually, it became a medium for calligraphy, an art form in itself.

What broader societal themes does the Oracle Bone writing reflect?

The writing reflects centralized power, communication, and the creation of history. It highlights the importance of organizing society and recording events for posterity.