Oracle bone inscriptions are displayed at the Henan Provincial Museum. (PHOTO:VCG)

By BI Weizi

Oracle bone inscriptions are the oldest form of Chinese characters engraved on turtle shells or animal bones. They were used for divination and recording events in the late Shang Dynasty (1400-1100 B.C.) They are the earliest known systematic and mature writing in China and even East Asia.

More than 100,000 pieces of oracle bone inscriptions have been found mainly in Anyang and Zhengzhou, Henan province. They are records of divination and prayers to the gods related to a wide range of issues such as the king's affairs, the weather, harvest and military matters.

The oracle bone characters were carved with a knife on hard turtle shells or animal bones. The characters are therefore mainly straight and thick, showing a 3D visual effect. Although the inscriptions vary in size, they have shown a stable pattern, with relatively balanced and symmetrical structures.

Oracle bone inscriptions have both their linguistic communication and calligraphic artistry. They are not only the earliest and most systematic data for studying the origin of Chinese characters, but also a valuable asset for studying oracle bone calligraphy. In October 2017, they were included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.