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| Scripts Development / Oracle Bone Script (甲 骨 文 "Jia Gu Wen") (1600 - 1100 B.C.) | |||||||
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(click image for closer view) or (click here to view a slideshow on the entire scripts development - requires monitor size 1024 x 768 pixels) |
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| Carvings on Turtoise Shell Shang Dynasty 1,600-1,066 B.C. |
Carvings on Ox Scapula Shang Dynasty 1,600-1,066 B.C. |
Carvings on Deer Skull Shang Dynasty 1,600-1,066 B.C. |
Demonstration on Oracle Bone Script Writing |
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| The earliest discovery of Chinese characters was dated around 1600 B.C., the period when inscriptions were carved on tortoise shells and ox scapulas for oracle purpose.
During the time of the Yellow Emperor (cir. 2000 B.C.), an Imperial Recorder called Cang Jie (倉 頡) was believed to have the power to communicate with the supernature. He recorded his observations on the patterns upon movements of the tortoise shells and bird footprints to form the earliest characters that could be interpreted. People of the later date used these symbols for oracle purpose. These inscriptions displayed a style combining strong and stiff strokes. Some of them were even decorated with gemstones. These inscriptions were first officially unearthed in the Qing Dynasty in Henan Province, where Shang Dynasty established its capital. More than 100,000 pieces of bone and shell inscriptions were found. About 4,500 different characters were gathered, out of which over 1,500 characters and its meanings were deciphered into recent language. The people of the Xia and Shang Dynasties were superstitious. They carved symbols on shells and bones to pray to Heaven for health and rainfall, or to ask for permission to hunt and farm. It is interesting to know that before the official digging of the above tombs, residents around that area already unearthed pieces of bones from the same site. These bones were believed to carry good spirits from the past and were ground into powder as medicine to cure illness. It is believed that many inscriptions were lost throughout the thousand years of unauthorized diggings by desperate believers of the magic power of the oracles. |
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