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Anyang's oracle bones provide glimpse of ancient China

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-15 15:38

Yinxu, the ruins where oracle bone scripts were discovered in Anyang, Henan province, is proved to be capital of the Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC). It was placed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006. [China Daily]

The China Character Museum [China Daily]

King Wenwang of the Zhou Dynasty originated the classic I Ching here at Youli town. [China Daily]

When ancient people 3,000 years ago carved characters and recorded events on oracle bones in Anyang of Henan province, they probably never imagined their magic would pass on to modern times.

Unearthed in 1899, ruins in Anyang called Yinxu have been found to be the capital of the Late Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC). The original source of oracle bone scripts, the ruins reflect a splendid culture in ancient China. Yinxu was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006.

The earliest records of systematic Chinese writing, a total of 150,000 oracle bone fragments and 4,500 scripts have been discovered to date. Some 1,500 scripts have been deciphered, revealing significant information in the history before and during the Shang Dynasty.

As one of the eight most important ancient capitals in China, Anyang has variety of cultural and natural heritage.

Discovery of the ruins shed light on the evolution of Chinese culture and its written characters over the past three millennia. Foreign countries including the United States, Japan and Russia also have collections of the scripts. The study of Yinxu's oracle bones has become an international discipline.

The China Character Museum built in Anyang in 2006 showcases Chinese writing characters in different dynasties as well as research into the country's cultural development.

The ancient capital has a large number of historical interest sites, including Youli Town, home to Chinese classic I Ching, also called the Book of Changes, one of the oldest of all Chinese texts.

It is also the site of the first national prison in recorded history.

The tombs of Zhuan Xu and Zhi Ku, two ancient emperors, are sacred places for Chinese descendants to worship. The emperors established the capital in Anyang 4,000 years ago by uniting tribes into a whole nation.

In the north of Henan province, the city of Anyang neighbors Taihang Mountain. The city comprises of five counties, four districts and a hi-tech industrial development zone at the provincial level. It covers a total area of 7,413 sq km and has a population of 5.39 million.

Red Flag Canal, a wonder deep in Taihang Mountain [China Daily]

A statue of Yue Fei, a well-remembered general from the Song Dynasty in a local temple [China Daily]

Simuwu ding, the largest bronze utensil discovered in China [China Daily]