Hello,Yinxu① | Understanding Chinese Civilization - Beginning with Yinxu, Anyang

Editor's note: Confirmed by historic documents, archaeological excavations and oracle bone inscriptions as the capital site of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), Yinxu or the Yin Ruins is usually regarded as the cornerstone of the project on tracing the origins of Chinese civilization launched by China in 2001. As a key component of world civilization, Yinxu has provided solid evidence for the continuity and pluralistic and integrated pattern of Chinese civilization, and was inscribed in the UNESCO world cultural heritage list in 2006. Together with oracle bone inscriptions, Yinxu has extended recorded Chinese history to nearly 1,000 years earlier than previously believed. Starting today, we, together with HICC and Yinxu scenic spot, are launching a series of videos about Yinxu to help you gain a deeper understanding of it. Here is the 1st episode: Understanding Chinese Civilization - Beginning with Yinxu, Anyang.

编者按：作为中国历史上第一个有文献记载并为考古发掘与甲骨文所证实的都城遗址，殷墟是中华文明探源工程的原点和基石，是中华文明连续不断、多元一体的重要实证，也是世界文明史中重要一环，2006年被列入《世界遗产名录》。殷墟及甲骨文的重大发现把中国信史向前推进了近千年。为更好讲述中国故事、让世界读懂中国，即日起，河南国际传播中心、大河网联合安阳殷墟景区共同推出“走进殷墟”双语系列报道。今日推出第1期：《认识中华文明从安阳殷墟开始》。

Click on the video above

Yinxu is located in the northernmost part of Central China's Henan province. It was the earliest Shang Dynasty capital city recorded in historical texts and evidenced in oracle bone inscriptions as well as archaeological findings. As early as 1300 BC, Pan Geng, the 20th king of Shang, moved the capital from the present-day city of Qufu in East China's Shandong province to Xiaotun village of Henan's Anyang city in an attempt to pacify social unrest. A total of 12 kings reigned at Yinxu over 8 generations and 255 years. Yinxu is the first ancient capital in Chinese history documented in contemporary written records.

殷墟位于河南省最北部，是中国历史上第一个有文献记载并为甲骨文和考古发掘所证实的商代都城遗址。早在公元前1300年，商代第20位君王盘庚为了缓和当时的社会矛盾，将都城由山东曲阜迁到安阳小屯，历经8代12王，建都255年。

In 1046 BC, King Wu of Zhou (?-1043 BC) conquered Shang. This region fell into decline, withered into a wasteland over time and later became known as the Ruins of Yin. The area of Yinxu is roughly 36 square kilometers. Scientific archaeological excavations at Yinxu began in 1928. Over the past 9 decades, numerous Shang period remains have been unearthed: foundations of palaces and ancestral temples, royal tombs, sacrificial pits, settlement ruins, cemeteries, craft production sites, oracle bone pits and so on. A vast amount of oracle bones, bronze vessels, jade objects and many other kinds of artifacts have been discovered. Revealed through these remains are multiple facets of the 3,300-year-old Shang capital city.

到了公元前1046年，周武王伐纣灭商以后，这里逐渐荒芜，慢慢地变成了一片废墟，史称殷墟，占地面积近36平方公里。1928年，殷墟科学考古工作正式展开。在近一个世纪的时间内，这里先后发现了众多商代宫殿宗庙建筑基址、王陵墓葬群、祭祀坑、聚落遗址、家族墓地、手工业作坊遗址、甲骨窖穴等，出土了数量惊人的甲骨、青铜器、玉器等精美文物，全面、系统地展现了3300年前中国商代都城风貌。

In March 1961, Yinxu was listed among the first batch of major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level in China. In March 2001, Yinxu topped the list of the "Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries in the 20th Century in China". On July 13, 2006, at the 30th session of the World Heritage Committee, it was granted the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2010, Yinxu was listed among the first batch of national archaeological site parks.

1961年3月，殷墟被公布为第一批国家重点文物保护单位。2001年3月，殷墟被评为“中国20世纪100项考古大发现”之首。2006年7月13日，殷墟因具有全球突出普遍价值和良好的管理与展示，在第30届世界遗产委员会会议上被列入《世界遗产名录》。2010年，殷墟被评为首批国家考古遗址公园。（赵汉青 杨佳欣）