Yinxu

Yinxu (Chinese: 殷墟; lit. ‘Ruins of Yin’) is the remains of the late capital city of the Shang Dynasty in China. It is located in the northwest suburbs of Anyang City, Henan Province, along both banks of Huanhe River.

The central area is known as Xiaotun Village, covering an area of approximately 30 square kilometers. In the 14th century BC, King Pan Geng moved the capital to this location, and it witnessed the reign of 12 kings, lasting for 273 years. After the Zhou Dynasty, Wu Geng, the son of King Zhou, was appointed as the king, but his efforts to suppress the rebellion failed, leading to the gradual departure of the Yin people and the dereliction of Yinxu.

Yinxu is well known for its oracle bone inscriptions. These inscriptions, carved on the bones and shells of animals, are the earliest known form of Chinese writing. They provide invaluable insights into the politics, economy, culture, and religion of the late Shang Dynasty.

Yinxu are also renowned for their bronze ware. The bronze vessels found here are intricately designed and demonstrate the advanced metalworking skills of the Shang Dynasty. Various kinds of bronzes unearthed in Yinxu are beautifully crafted with delicate decorations, which are rare art treasures. Its smelting technology was highly skilled and pure, the highest level in the world at that time, demonstrating the highly developed smelting technology of China's Shang Dynasty. Bronze weapons were naturally the main weapons used by the Yin and Shang dynasties in their wars to consolidate and expand the power of the state. Bronze was also a symbol of the power, wealth and status of the Shang royal family. The Shanghoumuwu Cauldron, unearthed from the royal tomb area in 1939, is 1.33 meters high, 1.10 meters long, 0.78 meters wide, and weighs 875 kilograms, making it the largest piece of bronze artifacts that have been excavated in the world

The site of Yinxu embodies the characteristics and influence of early state power in several aspects, which are described below:

I. Political Center Status

Yin Ruins was once the political center of the late Shang Dynasty. Around 1300 BC, the Shang king Pan Geng moved the capital to Yin on the shore of Huan River, which then became the core of the political power of the Shang Dynasty. After 8 generations and 12 kings, a total of 273 years of glorious history, Yin ruins witnessed the rise and fall of the Shang dynasty. As the capital city of the late Shang Dynasty, Yinxu carries rich historical and cultural connotations and demonstrates the stability and continuity of state power in early ancient China.

II. Symbols of Kingship

The oracle bones and other artifacts unearthed in the ruins of Yinxu reveal the existence of a bureaucratic apparatus centered on kingship during the Shang Dynasty. These officials were responsible for handling state affairs and maintaining social order, reflecting the organization and authority of state power.

III. Legal System and Order

During the Shang Dynasty, the system of rituals was gradually improved, and the hiding of rituals in vessels became an important means of maintaining social order. Bronze and jade artifacts unearthed in the ruins of Yinxu, often with symbolic decorations and inscriptions, not only demonstrate the ritual system of the Shang Dynasty, but also reflect the role of state power in regulating social behavior and shaping moral concepts.

On March 4, 1961, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China declared Yinxu as a key national cultural relic protection site, and on July 13, 2006, it was included in the World Heritage List as a world cultural heritage site.