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Oracle bone facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Chinese oracle bone (16th-10th C BC) - BL Or. 7694
Holes drilled into an oracle bone

Oracle Bones were ox scapula or turtle plastron bones that the Chinese would carve or scratch their questions on. Then the priests would burn the oracle bone until it would crack. Then the priest read these cracks to the Chinese people for their answer. The Chinese people believed their answers were from the gods. This was also known as the first stages of Chinese writing. These were very important to the Chinese.

Images for kids

  • Wang Yirong

    Wang Yirong, Chinese politician and scholar, was the first to recognize the oracle bones as ancient writing.

  • Oracle bones pit

    Oracle bone pit at Yinxu, Anyang

  • Shang dynasty inscribed scapula

    Ox scapula recording divinations by Zhēng 爭 in the reign of King Wu Ding

  • Shang dynasty inscribed tortoise plastron

    Tortoise plastron with divination inscription

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hueso oracular para niños

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