# The Oracle Bones of Ancient China

In the study of ancient Chinese history, one of the most fascinating discoveries has been the oracle bones from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE). These artifacts give us important clues about early Chinese writing, religion, and society.

The Shang kings used these oracle bones to communicate with their ancestors and gods. They would write questions on pieces of animal bone or turtle shell, then apply heat until the bone cracked. Special priests would interpret these cracks as answers from the spirit world.

Most oracle bones were made from the shoulder bones of oxen or the plastrons (bottom shells) of turtles. The Shang people believed turtles had special spiritual connections because they could live in both water and on land, and because their long lifespan represented wisdom.

Today, over 150,000 oracle bone fragments have been found. They provide valuable information about the Shang Dynasty's government, wars, weather, and even medical practices. The writing on these bones is the earliest known form of Chinese characters, showing how modern Chinese writing developed over thousands of years.

Without these oracle bones, our knowledge of early Chinese civilization would be much more limited. They serve as an important bridge between the ancient world and our understanding of history today.

## Comprehension Questions

1. What were oracle bones primarily used for in the Shang Dynasty?

Cooking food
Communicating with spirits
Building houses
Writing letters

2. Why did the Shang people particularly value turtle shells for oracle bones?

Because turtles were easy to catch
Because of turtles' spiritual connections and long lifespan
Because turtle shells were colorful
Because turtles could fly

3. What important historical information do oracle bones provide?

Only weather reports
Only military information
Various aspects of Shang society including government and medicine
Only religious practices

4. How did priests get answers from the oracle bones?

By reading written answers on the bones
By interpreting cracks made by heating the bones
By listening to the bones
By weighing the bones

5. What is significant about the writing on oracle bones?

It's the earliest known form of Chinese characters
It's written in gold ink
It's the same as modern Chinese writing
It was borrowed from Egyptian hieroglyphs