Amazing Oracle Bone Scripts ④ | Oracle Bone Inscriptions Return to Yin Ruins with Assistance of Digitalization

了不起的甲骨文 ④ | 数字化召唤甲骨文回家

Amazing Oracle Bone Scripts ④ | Oracle Bone Inscriptions Return to Yin Ruins with Assistance of Digitalization

1899年，沉睡地下3000多年的甲骨文终于重见天日。甲骨文发现的故事，后来被人们称为“一片甲骨惊世界”，这一传奇的背后，是其重要的历史价值和文化价值。为了让珍贵的文化遗产“永久保存、永续利用”，安阳市利用数字化技术与时间赛跑，走出一条甲骨文研究保护的全新道路。

In 1899, after being buried underground for over 3000 years, oracle bone scripts finally saw the light of day. The discovery of these ancient Chinese scripts, later known as the "oracle bones that stunned the world," provided valuable insights into Chinese history and culture. In order to ensure the permanent preservation and sustainable use of this precious cultural heritage, researchers in Anyang City of Henan province have utilized digital technology to embark on a new path of research and protection for oracle bone scripts.

“120多年来，殷墟已经发现近16万片甲骨，这是一个巨大的文化宝藏。”12月25日，中国社会科学院考古研究所安阳工作站副站长何毓灵对记者说，数量看似很多，但这些甲骨分别收藏于国内外博物馆、图书馆、科研机构、高校等至少170多家机构，根本无法重新集中起来进行研究。

"Nearly 160,000 pieces of oracle bones have been found in Yin Ruins over the past 120 years, which is a great cultural treasure," said He Yuling, deputy head of the Anyang Branch of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). He also added on December 25th that these oracle bones are scattered across more than 170 institutions at home and abroad, including museums, libraries, scientific research institutions, universities, etc., making it nearly impossible to gather them all together for research.

“我们都希望这些文物能回归殷墟，但实际上又不可能，所以大家一直在思考如何能让散落的甲骨文‘回家’。”何毓灵坦言。

"We all hope these cultural relics can return to Yin Ruins, but it's not easy. So, everyone has been thinking about ways to bring the scatteredoracle bone scripts back home," said He Yuling.

甲骨文 "回家" 的意义何在？

What is the significance of oracle bones "returning home"?

一是保护需要。何毓灵介绍，龟甲兽骨正在不可逆转地风化，甲骨文的抢救性保护迫在眉睫。由于甲骨质地脆弱，表面疏松粉化与残损较为普遍，保存、展示、利用十分不易。随着时间推移，甲骨上的文字还可能变浅甚至消失。“前几年有研究甲骨文的学者发现，原来在某片甲骨上还能看到3个字，后来却只剩两个字了。”他说。

Firstly, there is a need for protection. He introduced that the rescuing conservation of oracle bone inscriptions was extremely urgent because tortoise shells and animal bones were irreversibly weathering. Due to the fragile texture of tortoise bones, the frequent situation of loose powder and damage makes the preservation, display, and utilization of oracle bone inscriptions difficult. As time passes, the inscriptions on oracle bones may become shallower or even disappear. "A few years ago, scholars studying oracle bone inscriptions found that there were three characters on a piece of oracle bone, but later, there were only two remaining," he said.

People visit the National Museum of Chinese Characters. [Photo/Wang Fan]

二是研究需要。近年来，殷墟甲骨文研究取得了很多重要成果，但仍然面临新材料缺乏等问题，甲骨碎片的分散更是影响了对甲骨文的释读和研究。“一片甲骨可能会碎成20多块，如果把甲骨碎片拼起来，碎片上的字可能就会连贯成一句话，更利于甲骨文的释读。”何毓灵说。

Secondly, there is a need for research. In recent years, although many significant achievements have been made in the study of oracle bone inscriptions in Yin Ruins, there are still some challenges, like the need for more new materials and the dispersion of oracle bone fragments, which even affect the interpretation of oracle bone inscriptions. "An oracle bone may be broken into more than 20 pieces, and if we piece together these fragments, the characters on the fragments may form a coherent sentence, making it easier to interpret the oracle bone script," said He.

安阳师范学院甲骨文信息处理教育部重点实验室也一直致力于甲骨文的“数字化回归”。

Staff in the Key Laboratory of Oracle Information Processing of the Education Department at Anyang Normal University have been dedicated to the "digital return" of oracle bone inscriptions.

“最大程度地保存甲骨及其承载文字的原始面貌，是甲骨文数字化工程的目标。”该实验室主任刘永革介绍，甲骨文数字化工程以该实验室主导建设的当今最大型、全免费的甲骨文资源共享平台——“殷契文渊”为基础，通过三维建模、微痕增强、人工智能等技术建成“甲骨文全信息模型”，让甲骨文以数字化形式回归殷墟有了可能。

"The goal of the oracle bone script digitization project is to preserve the original appearance of oracle bones and the characters they bear to the greatest extent," said Liu Yongge, the lab director. He also introduced that the oracle bone script digitization project is based on the largest and entirely free oracle bone script resource-sharing platform, the "Yin Qi Wen Yuan."It has been constructed using technologies such as 3D modeling, microtrace enhancement, artificial intelligence, and more to create a "full-information model of oracle bone scripts,” making it possible for oracle bone inscriptions to return to Yin Ruins in digital form.

2022年，该实验室联合腾讯公司共同推出了“甲骨文全球数字焕活”计划，服务甲骨文物“回归”故乡。他们取得了“微痕分析”和“甲骨三维建模”的技术突破，构建了“甲骨文全信息数据模型”，包括三维模型、微痕增强图、微痕灰度图、数字摹本、数字拓片和科学影像层等，实现了甲骨实物在数字空间的高保真还原和保护。

In 2022, the lab jointly launched the “Global Rejuvenation of Oracle Bone Inscriptions” program with Tencent to assist these cultural relics in "returning" to their homeland. They made technological breakthroughs in "micro-mark analysis" and "3D modeling of oracle bones" in the process of constructing the "full information data model of oracle bone inscriptions," which includes 3D models, micro-mark enhancement pictures, micro-mark grayscale maps, digital copies, digital rubbings and scientific image layers, etc., realizing the high-fidelity restoration and protection of oracle bones in digital space.

The oracle bone script form of "家 (Jia, home)"

该实验室三维研究室负责人郭安在电脑上向记者展示他们的这一“神奇”成果。在数字空间里高保真还原的甲骨实物可以360°旋转，也能放大或缩小，通过微痕分析，记者不仅能看清甲骨片上的文字刻写风格和笔画叠压关系，还能了解钻凿形态、卜兆裂纹、材质纹理等信息。

Guo An, head of the laboratory's three-dimensional research department, showed the reporter the remarkable achievements on a computer. In the digital space, the high-fidelity restoration of oracle bone artifacts allows 360° rotation, zooming in or out. Through microtrace analysis, the journalist can not only see the writing style and stroke overlap relationship on the oracle bone fragments but also understand information about drilling forms, divination crack patterns, material textures, and more.

“这样可以更好地还原殷商时代的生产生活场景，发掘甲骨文蕴含的智慧和艺术价值。”刘永革说，“我们真正实现了甲骨文物的数字化保护。”

"This can better restore the production and living scenes in the Shang Dynasty and explore the wisdom and artistic value contained in the oracle bones," said Liu. He added that they had truly realized the digital protection of oracle bones.

“未来，散落世界各地的殷墟甲骨将会以全新的形式‘回归’故里，有效推动世界范围内甲骨文学术研究的互动分享，让全世界热爱甲骨文、喜爱中国古代文明的普通民众都能参与其中，推动这一优秀文化遗产得到更广泛的传播。”刘永革说。

"In the future, the oracle bones scattered worldwide will return to their homeland in a completely new form, effectively promoting the interactive sharing of academic research on oracle bones worldwide. This will enable people worldwide who love oracle bone script and appreciate ancient Chinese civilization to participate in it, promoting the wider dissemination of this outstanding cultural heritage," mentioned Liu. （中文来源/河南日报 记者/谢建晓 杨之甜 编译/李云娇 童林 审校/温晓梅）