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Questions and Answers
What is another name for the ancient Chinese script used for divination and record-keeping?
Jiaguwen or oracle bone script
What was the oracle bone script used for during the Shang Dynasty?
Divination and record-keeping
How were oracle bones used for divination?
By cracking them and interpreting the cracks
What was the capital city of the Shang Dynasty?
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What was the economy of the Shang Dynasty based on?
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What was a significant achievement of the Shang Dynasty?
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Who was at the top of the hierarchical society of the Shang Dynasty?
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What led to the decline of the Shang Dynasty?
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Study Notes
Oracle Bones
- Also known as "jiaguwen" or "oracle bone script"
- Ancient Chinese script used for divination and record-keeping
- Inscribed on animal bones or turtle shells
- Used during the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th centuries BCE)
Characteristics of Oracle Bones
- Written in a logographic style, with pictorial symbols representing words or concepts
- Over 4,000 characters have been identified, with many still unknown
- Bones were used for divination by cracking them and interpreting the cracks
- Inscriptions often record royal activities, sacrifices, and military campaigns
Shang Civilization
- Flourished in the Yellow River Valley of ancient China (16th-11th centuries BCE)
- Capital city: Ao (or Yin), located near modern-day Anyang
- Economy based on agriculture, with millet and rice as staple crops
- Society divided into aristocracy, commoners, and slaves
Shang Dynasty Achievements
- Developed a writing system (oracle bones)
- Invented bronze metallurgy and casting
- Advanced irrigation systems and agricultural techniques
- Established a system of ancestor worship and divination
- Developed a calendar with 12 months and 365-day year
Shang Dynasty Government
- Monarchy with a king at the top of a hierarchical society
- Kings performed ritual and ceremonial duties, as well as administrative tasks
- Nobles and officials governed regions and managed the military
- Bureaucratic system with scribes and record-keepers
Decline of the Shang Dynasty
- Weakened by internal conflicts, external pressures, and natural disasters
- Overthrown by the Zhou Dynasty (11th-3rd centuries BCE)
- Shang Dynasty legacy continues to influence Chinese culture and politics
Oracle Bones
- Ancient Chinese script used for divination and record-keeping, known as "jiaguwen" or "oracle bone script"
- Inscribed on animal bones or turtle shells during the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th centuries BCE)
- Written in a logographic style, with pictorial symbols representing words or concepts
- Over 4,000 characters have been identified, with many still unknown
Shang Dynasty
- Flourished in the Yellow River Valley of ancient China (16th-11th centuries BCE)
- Capital city: Ao (or Yin), located near modern-day Anyang
- Economy based on agriculture, with millet and rice as staple crops
- Society divided into aristocracy, commoners, and slaves
Achievements
- Developed a writing system using oracle bones
- Invented bronze metallurgy and casting
- Advanced irrigation systems and agricultural techniques
- Established a system of ancestor worship and divination
- Developed a calendar with 12 months and 365-day year
Government
- Monarchy with a king at the top of a hierarchical society
- Kings performed ritual and ceremonial duties, as well as administrative tasks
- Nobles and officials governed regions and managed the military
- Bureaucratic system with scribes and record-keepers
Decline and Legacy
- Weakened by internal conflicts, external pressures, and natural disasters
- Overthrown by the Zhou Dynasty (11th-3rd centuries BCE)
- Shang Dynasty legacy continues to influence Chinese culture and politics
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Description
Learn about oracle bones, an ancient Chinese script used for divination and record-keeping during the Shang Dynasty. Discover its characteristics, logographic style, and the significance of the over 4,000 identified characters.
