Exhibition Opens to Mark Discovery of Inscribed Oracle Bones

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

The discovery of 300-year-old oracle-bone inscriptions in 1899 has ignited the interest of scholars and antique connoisseurs in the studies of the antecedents of Chinese characters.

As the country marks the 120th anniversary of this important find, an exhibition now running in Beijing brings together more than 100 inscribed oracle bones by which visitors will get a glimpse of the earliest state of Chinese language grammar, the divination of late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties, and the writing form's influence on the development of Chinese civilization.

The exhibition is held at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. It also shows archaic bronze wares and jade objects dated to the same periods of time, helping the audience better understand the information conveyed by the oracle-bone inscriptions.

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Oracle bones, bronze wares and jade objects dating back to late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties are on show at the National Museum of China through Dec 22. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]