They were used in as a form of divination in ancient China, mainly during the late Shang dynasty. The bones were used in a ritual where diviners would inscribe questions to deities regarding many things some of which being questions about: future weather, crop planting, military endeavors, and similar topics.
Q. What was found in China inscribed on pieces of animal bones and tortoise shells What was the purpose of these inscriptions?
Oracle bones are pieces of bone or turtle shell that were used by the ancient Chinese, especially Chinese kings, in attempts to predict the future. The ancient kings would inscribe their name and the date on the bone along with a question.
Table of Contents
- Q. What was found in China inscribed on pieces of animal bones and tortoise shells What was the purpose of these inscriptions?
- Q. What did the Shang Dynasty used oracle bones for?
- Q. How were oracle bones used in China?
- Q. What questions were written on oracle bones?
- Q. What do you think are the four most important Chinese inventions?
- Q. How much of the Great Wall of China is still standing?
Q. What did the Shang Dynasty used oracle bones for?
The Shang people used oracle bones to communicate with ancestors and deities, who were believed to have the power to bestow fortune, disasters and guidance on the living world.
| Oracle bone script | |
|---|---|
| Time period | Bronze Age China |
| Languages | Old Chinese |
| Related scripts | |
| Child systems | Chinese characters |
Q. How were oracle bones used in China?
Q. What questions were written on oracle bones?
The questions on these oracle bones have told archaeologists a great deal about daily life during the Shang Dynasty. The thing is, the questions did not actually say “Will it be sunny tomorrow?” What the question actually said was something like this: “If I sacrifice 8 men or 3 oxen, will it be sunny tomorrow?”
Q. What do you think are the four most important Chinese inventions?
Papermaking, printing, gunpowder and the compass – the four great inventions of ancient China-are significant contributions of the Chinese nation to world civilization.
Q. How much of the Great Wall of China is still standing?
The section of the wall we’re on is in comparatively good condition, its parapets and towers largely intact. Dong says that roughly 10 percent of the wall is well-preserved. But he estimates that a third has vanished completely, and that the remaining 60 percent is in various degrees of disrepair.
