Oracle bones

(noun)

Inscriptions of divination records on the bones or shells of animals, dating to the Shang Dynasty of ancient China.

Related Terms

Examples of Oracle bones in the following topics:

  • Shang Religion

    • The oldest surviving form of Chinese writing is inscriptions of divination records on the bones or shells of animals—so-called oracle bones.
    • Oracle bones were pieces of bone or turtle shell used by the ancient Chinese, especially Chinese kings, in attempts to predict the future.
    • Questions were carved into oracle bones, such as, "Will we win the upcoming battle?"
    • Many of the oracle bones ask questions about war, harvests, and childbirth.
    • This oracle bone from the Shang Dynasty dates to the reign of King Wu Ding.

  • Advancements Under the Shang

    • Oracle bone inscriptions show that the Shang used chariots as mobile command vehicles and in royal hunts.
    • A significant number of Shang oracle bones were concerned with battle.
    • The oracle bones also show deep concern over the "barbarians" living outside the empire, who were a constant threat to the safety and stability of the kingdom; the military had to be constantly ready to fight them.

  • Introduction to the Shang Dynasty

    • These have included 11 major Yin royal tombs and building sites of palaces and rituals, as well as weapons and remains of human and animal sacrifices, and artifacts, including bronze, jade, stone, bone, and ceramic.
    • The oldest surviving form of Chinese writing is inscriptions of divination records on the bones or shells of animals—so-called oracle bones.
    • However, the writing on the oracle bones shows evidence of complex development, indicating that written language had existed for a long time.
    • This site yielded large numbers of oracle bones that describe the travels of eleven named kings.

  • The Mandate of Heaven

    • The Chinese character for "Tian," meaning "heaven," in (from left to right) Bronze script, Seal script, Oracle script, and modern simplified.

  • Ancient Egyptian Religion

    • Commoners and pharaohs asked questions of oracles, and answers could even be used during the New Kingdom to settle legal disputes.

  • The Persian Wars

    • Seeing an opportunity in the upheaval, the famous Lydian king Croesus asked the oracle at Delphi whether he should attack the Persians in order to extend his realm.

  • Hammurabi's Code

    • If one break a man's bone, they shall break his bone.
    • If one destroy the eye of a freeman or break the bone of a freeman he shall pay one gold mina.
    • If one destroy the eye of a man's slave or break a bone of a man's slave he shall pay one-half his price."

  • The Caral Civilization

    • Other pieces found include flutes made of condor and pelican bones, and cornetts made of deer and llama bones.

  • Invention of Paper

    • During the Shang (1600 - 1050 BCE) and Zhou (1050 - 250 BCE) dynasties, bone, bamboo and sometimes silk were used as writing tablets.

  • The Nazca

    • It entails the removal of one or more sections of bone from the skull (while the person is still alive).