Yin Shang Culture: Yinxu, Oracle Bones and Bronze Ware

Yin and Shang culture originated in Shangqiu, Henan Province and flourished in Anyang, Henan Province. From Di Ku, one of the ancestors of the Chinese civilization, whose capital was established in Yin, to the Shang Dynasty that existed from 1600 to 1046 BC, and then to the Song, a vassal state established by the descendants of the Shang during the Spring and Autumn Period, Yin and Shang culture flourished for more than a thousand years.

The Shang Dynasty has left behind material and intangible legacies that profoundly influenced later generations. These legacies can be categorized into three main aspects: urban planning and ritual systems as seen in Yinxu (the Yin ruins), the earliest known writing system, oracle bone script, and bronze artifacts.

Yin Ruins are the first ancient capital site in Chinese history to be confirmed by archaeological excavations. They were the political, economic, military and cultural center of the late Shang Dynasty. After the fall of the Shang Dynasty, they became ruins. The palace and ancestral temple area of Yin Ruins has a complete ritual architectural system with a strict layout and clear functional divisions in different areas. Meanwhile, the capital city of Yin Ruins strictly separated the palace from the residential area, highlighting the central position of the Shang king's palace and featuring a scientific urban planning. This layout remained unchanged throughout the Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, with distinct ritual characteristics. Besides palaces, there are also numerous courtyard-style building sites in the capital city of Yin Ruins. The layout of these courtyards originated in the Xia Dynasty and was formed during the Yin Ruins period of the Shang Dynasty, exerting a profound influence on the form of Chinese residential courtyards.

Before handling any affairs, big or small, the rulers of the Shang Dynasty would use oracle bones to divine and consult the spirits. Afterward, they would inscribe the questions on the bones, thus giving birth to oracle bone script. The oracle bone script from the Yinxu site is the oldest and most complete writing system in existence, and it is the origin of Chinese characters and the root of traditional Chinese culture. The oracle bone script was unearthed in Anyang, Henan Province at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Up to now, about 150,000 pieces have been discovered, with over 4,000 individual characters. The content covers all aspects of politics and life in the Shang Dynasty, serving as direct historical materials of the Shang Dynasty and promoting the innovation and development of traditional Chinese philology.

During the Shang Dynasty, the handicraft industry, represented by bronze wares, developed rapidly. This was also the peak period of ancient Chinese bronze wares. Famous bronze wares such as the Houmuwu Ding and the Four Rams Square Vase emerged, demonstrating the advanced cultural level and casting techniques of the Shang Dynasty. During this period, people shifted from ancestor worship to divination through witchcraft. The taotie patterns on bronze wares reflected the religious sentiments of the people at that time. Unlike the painted pottery of the Yangshao Culture, which had mostly gentle and vivid patterns of flowers, plants, insects and fish, the patterns on Shang Dynasty bronze wares were more fierce and terrifying, presenting a kind of ferocious beauty, which reflected the imagination and innocence of the Shang people.