Yinxu facts for kids
Yinxu, the site of the Shang dynasty capital between c. 1350 and c. 1046 BCE
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 Location in Henan
Location in China
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| Location | Yindu District, Anyang, Henan, China |
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| Coordinates | 36°07′36″N 114°18′50″E / 36.12667°N 114.31389°E |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Yin Xu |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Inscription | 2006 (30th Session) |
| Area | 414 ha |
| Buffer zone | 720 ha |
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| Chinese | 殷墟 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Ruins of Yin" | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Yinxu (pronounced Yin-shoo) is an amazing archeological site in China. It was once Yin, the last capital city of the Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty was an ancient Chinese kingdom that existed from about 1600 to 1046 BCE.
Yinxu is located in what is now Anyang, in the Henan province. Yin was the capital during the Late Shang period, from about 1250 to 1046 BCE. Twelve Shang kings ruled from this city. This is also where oracle bone script first appeared. This script is the earliest known form of Chinese writing.
For thousands of years, Yinxu was forgotten. But in 1899, people rediscovered it. This happened when oracle bones with strange writings were found and sold nearby. The rediscovery of Yinxu led to many years of digging and studying the site. Today, Yinxu is one of China's oldest and largest archaeological sites. UNESCO chose it as a World Heritage Site in 2006. You can visit Yinxu to explore its ancient history.
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What is the Traditional History of Yinxu?
Ancient Chinese writings tell us about Yin. The word "Yin" (殷) originally meant "vibrant music-making." Later, it was used to describe the Shang dynasty and its final capital. However, the Shang people themselves did not use the name "Yin."
In their oracle bones, the Shang called their state Shāng (商). They called their capital Dàyì Shāng (大邑商), which means "Great Settlement Shang." The name "Yin" was used later by the Zhou dynasty, who came after the Shang.
Ancient Chinese books like the Book of Documents and the Bamboo Annals say that Shang King Pan Geng moved the capital to Yin. The Bamboo Annals specifically state that he moved it from a place called Yan to a site named Beimeng. This site was then renamed Yin.
Yin was clearly the Shang capital by the time King Wu Ding ruled. King Wu Ding launched many military campaigns from Yin. This helped the Shang dynasty become very powerful.
Later Shang kings were said to be more interested in fun than ruling. King Zhòu, the last Shang king, was known for being harsh. His rules made many nobles unhappy. Eventually, King Wu of the Zhou dynasty led a rebellion. He overthrew the Shang dynasty.
After the Zhou dynasty took over, they built their own capital. It was near modern-day Xi'an. Yin was left behind and fell into ruins. These ruins were mentioned in old texts, but the once-great city became a legend. It was not until the late Qing dynasty that Yinxu was rediscovered.
How Were Archaeological Discoveries Made at Yinxu?
Yinxu is famous for its oracle bones. These bones were first recognized as ancient Chinese writing in 1899. This happened when Wang Yirong, a scholar, bought some "dragon bones" from a traditional pharmacy. He noticed strange carvings on them. He realized these carvings were an ancient form of Chinese writing.
News of this discovery made the oracle bones very popular. Many people started digging illegally to find them. Tens of thousands of pieces were taken. Eventually, the source of these "dragon bones" was traced to a village called Xiaotun, near Anyang.
In 1910, scholars like Luo Zhenyu and James Mellon Menzies confirmed that this area was the site of the last Shang capital. In 1917, Wang Guowei was able to read the names of Shang kings on the oracle bones. He created a complete family tree of the Shang rulers. This matched what was written in the ancient Records of the Grand Historian. This proved that the Shang dynasty was real and that Yinxu was a very important historical site.
However, the oracle bones themselves call the capital Dàyìshāng or Shāngyì.
The first official archaeological digs at Yinxu began in 1928. Li Ji, an archaeologist, led these excavations until 1937. They found the remains of a royal palace and several royal tombs. They also uncovered more than 100,000 oracle bones. These bones showed that the Shang had a well-developed writing system.
Since 1950, new excavations have continued. Archaeologists have found remains of palaces, temples, and royal cemeteries. They also found workshops where bronze and bone items were made. These discoveries at Yinxu have helped shape archaeology across China.
Archaeologists have identified four main periods at the site. These periods match different Shang kings and timeframes:
| Period | Oracle Bone Period | Kings | Approximate Dates |
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| Yinxu I | Pan Geng, Xiao Xin, Xiao Yi | 1300–1250 BCE | |
| Yinxu II | I | Wu Ding | 1250–1192 BCE |
| II | Zu Geng, Zu Jia | 1191–1148 BCE | |
| Yinxu III | III | Lin Xin, Geng Ding | |
| IV | Wu Yi, Wen Wu Ding | 1147–1102 BCE | |
| Yinxu IV | V | Di Yi, Di Xin | 1101–1046 BCE |
What Can We See at the Excavation Sites?
Yinxu covers about 30 square kilometers. This makes it the largest archaeological site in China. Digs have uncovered over 80 foundations made of rammed earth. These include palaces, shrines, tombs, and workshops. These findings confirm that Yinxu was the spiritual and cultural heart of the Shang dynasty.
One of the best-preserved royal tombs found at Yinxu is the Tomb of Fu Hao. Lady Hao was a military leader and a wife of Shang King Wu Ding. Her tomb was discovered in 1976 by Zheng Zhenxiang. It dates back to about 1250 BCE.
The tomb was found completely untouched by looters. Inside, archaeologists found the remains of Lady Hao. They also found six dog skeletons and 16 human remains. Many valuable items were also buried with her. These items are very important for understanding ancient history.
The tomb has been carefully excavated and restored. It is now open to the public. The exhibition hall also shows chariot pits. These pits contain the earliest examples of animal-driven carts found in Chinese archaeology.
Why is Yinxu Historically Important?
Before Yinxu was excavated, many people questioned if the Shang dynasty was real. The discovery of the oracle bone inscriptions changed that. They proved that the Shang dynasty truly existed. This helped historians understand early Chinese history much better.
About 150,000 oracle bones have been found at Yinxu. These bones provide some of the earliest evidence of written Chinese. Bronze and jade items found there show us the burial customs of the Shang people. This includes the practice of sacrificing animals.
Many handicrafts and workshops have also been found at Yinxu. Patterns on their tools and bronze items include animal faces and swirl designs. Large bronze items, like the Houmuwu ding, were made using a complex process.
See also
- Periodization of the Shang dynasty
- Historical capitals of China
- Huanbei
