The rediscovery of the Shang began with the discovery of turtle shells. These turtle shells are inscribed with ancient Chinese characters. Their inscriptions are about events of national significance. They are also inscribed with natural disasters and insignificant happenings. Legend has it that Wang Yirong’s family bought the turtle shells to make medicine. Wang Yirong was an archaeologist who was the first to build up a collection of oracle bones. Oracle bones were found in Xiaotun. Shang fortune tellers used the oracles bones to foretell predictions about the future. The bones were cleaned and thinned when it was used to predict the future. They applied a hot object until the surface cracked. The cracked shells were then presented to the king. The interpretation of the King, of the cracks, was engraved onto the shell. Oracles bones are the first written texts recorded. There were references to historical personalities to prove their existence which dispelled some misconceptions of Shang.

Labels: ORACLES BONES --MARKED--