Ancient Chinese Oracle Bones: The Origins of Writing in East Asia

Ancient Chinese Oracle Bones: The Origins of Writing in East Asia

Oracle Bones (jiaguwen) represent the earliest systematic writing system in East Asia and are the direct ancestors of modern Chinese characters. Used primarily during the late Shang Dynasty (c. 1250–1046 BCE), these artifacts were not meant for public reading or literature, but for a high-stakes ritual of communication with the spirit world.The discovery of these bones at the turn of the 20th century transformed our understanding of ancient Chin…