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The rediscovery of the Shang began with the discovery of ventral shells. Ventral shells were used to make traditional Chinese medicine. Oracle bones were turtle plastrons or cattle scapulas. They were first discovered when a sick member of Wang Yirong’s family sent out to a pharmacist for turtle plastrons. Somebody in the family then noticed they were inscribed with strange characters, resembling Chinese. It spoke of war and harvest, disease and childbirth. They are heavy with descriptions of sacrifices. The predictions by the oracle bones were believed to be natural forces which were feared and respected. Foreign tribes can be allies or enemies. Shang diviners, used the bones to verify whether events would occur. The bones were cleaned and thinned and a hot object is applied causing it to crack. The cracks, to the Shang, represented a voice from another world. The oracle bones refer to persons who appear in traditional historical texts, proving that the ancient tales were more than myths.
Posted by ShAnNoN at 5:57 PM
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