The earliest known mature writing system in China, oracle bone script (Jiaguwen, 甲骨文), emerged during the late Shang Dynasty (商, 14th to 11th centuries B.C.). Carved onto tortoise shells and animal bones, these inscriptions preserve the historical memory and cultural codes of early Chinese civilization. As both the "childhood form" of Chinese characters and a mirror reflecting the Shang and Zhou societies, they offer invaluable insights into ancient governance, religion, technology, and art. Since their rediscovery in 1899, oracle bone inscriptions have opened a 3,000-year-old historical window, embodying the weight of "one word, one history" and serving as a cornerstone for understanding Chinese cultural roots.
From Knife to Brush, the Origins of Calligraphy
Oracle bone inscriptions were carved using bronze or jade knives, resulting in thin, sharp, and angular strokes that exhibit a unique "knife-carved aesthetic." The characters vary in size and spacing—such as "sacrifice" (Ji, 祭), resembling a symmetrical altar, or "deer" (Lu, 鹿), whose simple curves suggest antlers and hooves. These early inscriptions laid the foundation for later Chinese calligraphy, influencing scripts like Jinwen (金文, Bronze Inscriptions) and Seal Script (徽书, Zhuanshu).
Many oracle bone characters retain strong pictographic elements. For example, "mountain" (Shan, 山) depicts three peaks, while "car" (Che, 车) outlines a two-wheeled axle. Alongside pictographs, phonetic and ideographic compounds emerged. "Ming" (明), combining the sun and moon, symbolizes brightness, while "He" (河) incorporates a phonetic component for water. Of the 4,500 known oracle bone characters, roughly 34% are pictographic, and 23% are phonetic-ideographic compounds, showcasing the early diversity of Chinese writing.
The layout of these inscriptions followed the natural shape of the shell or bone rather than a strict grid. Unlike later standardized rows of text, these inscriptions adapted to cracks and contours, resulting in organic compositions. A prime example is artifact Yinxu Wen B 6385, where text radiates around natural fissures, seamlessly integrating divination cracks with written records. This interaction between text and form influenced later Chinese aesthetics, including the "leaving white space" principle in calligraphy and painting.
An Encyclopedia of Shang Society, Politics, and Warfare
Oracle bone inscriptions offer a detailed record of Shang governance. For instance, during the reign of Wu Ding (武丁), the female general Fu Hao (妇好) led military campaigns against the Qiangfang (羌族), as recorded in: "On the day Xinsi (辛巳), the king ordered Fu Hao to attack Tufang (土方)." This confirms that elite women in the Shang Dynasty could wield military power.
Military terminology such as "multi-shot" (duoshe, 多射) and "three hundred shot" (sanbai she, 三百射) reveals insights into early warfare. Oracle bones also contain the earliest recorded solar and lunar eclipses, such as: "On the day Kuiyou (癸酉), there was an eclipse before dawn." These records show that the Shang people had a sophisticated calendar system, using the sexagenary cycle (Ganzhi, 干支) to track celestial events—a system still in use today.
Medical knowledge appears in oracle bone records, documenting over 40 diseases, including "eye ailments" (muyan, 目病) and "tooth decay" (yachi chong, 牙齿虫). Some divinations reference acupuncture and moxibustion, hinting at early medical practices. Ecologically, mentions of elephants and rhinoceroses suggest that central China had a warmer, wetter climate during the Shang period.
Economic records are abundant, detailing farming, hunting, and trade. Many divinations concern harvests, rainfall, and the number of wild animals like deer and rhinos, emphasizing the Shang people's dependence on agriculture and hunting. Additionally, references to "shells" (Bei, 贝) as currency—such as "giving two shells to a friend"—hint at early commerce.
The Divine Order and the Shang Divination System
Oracle bone inscriptions primarily served as royal divination records. The process involved selecting a shell or bone, applying heat, interpreting the cracks, engraving results, and archiving them. As noted in the Book of Rites (Liji, 礼记), "The Yin people revered the gods and guided the people to serve them." Each inscription represents a direct dialogue between the Shang king and the divine. The king, through shamans (Zhenren, 真人), sought guidance from Shangdi (上帝, the Supreme Deity) or ancestral spirits, interpreting the cracks as omens. This theocratic system laid the foundation for the Chinese concept of "Heaven's Mandate" (Tianming, 天命).
Oracle bones were used exclusively by the elite, with inscriptions focused on state affairs—rituals, warfare, and governance. The phrase "The king commands the people to cultivate the fields" illustrates the Shang rulers' absolute authority over agriculture. Writing, as a divine tool, became a marker of power, reinforcing the tradition that "to master writing is to master authority."
The inscriptions also reflect spiritual beliefs. "Shangdi" was the supreme deity, while ancestral kings such as Cheng Tang (成汤) and Zu Yi (祖乙) were revered as divine intermediaries. This structured pantheon influenced later Chinese ancestor worship traditions, which continue today in Qingming Festival (清明节) rituals.
The Modern Revival of Oracle Bone Script: From Scholarship to Pop Culture
Since Luo Zhenyu (罗振玉) and Wang Guowei (王国维) pioneered the "dual evidence method" in the early 20th century, scholars like Dong Zuobin (董作宾) have refined oracle bone research with the "grouping method of diviners." Today, digital projects such as "Yinxu Wenyuan" (殷墟文源) allow scholars worldwide to study these texts. To date, approximately 1,500 characters have been deciphered.
Oracle bones have also entered popular culture. The Anyang Chinese Character Museum offers interactive exhibits that decode ancient symbols. The pictograms of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were inspired by oracle bone characters—such as the "skiing humanoid" design, which mimics knife-carved strokes. Designers have incorporated characters like "Fu" (福, blessing) and "Shou" (寿, longevity) into modern art and fashion, breathing new life into these ancient inscriptions.
