Oracle Bone Scripts | New Yinxu Museum, I'm Here

　　New Yinxu Museum, I'm Here

　　了不起的甲骨文 | 殷墟，我来啦

As written inThe Book of Songs, the ancient Chinese classic of poetry, "Heaven sent Swallow down/To give birth to the Sire/Of Shang who wore the crown/Of land of Yin entire," people in the Shang Dynasty (c.1600-1046 BC) inherited the prehistoric civilization and the initial development of the Xia Dynasty (c.2070-1600 BC). With the legendary Swallow as their totem, bronze as their ceremonial vessels, and oracle bone script as their means of recording, the Shang people created a splendid civilization that established the fundamental framework of a unified multi-ethnic country for future generations by consolidating the dominant position of the Central Plains.

“天命玄鸟，降而生商，宅殿士茫茫”，以玄鸟为图腾，以青铜为礼器，以文字为记载，商人汇聚灿若群星的史前文明，继承夏代王朝初态，在交融与共中形成辉煌壮美的商代文明。商文明巩固了以中原为中心的天下体系，形成了后世统一多民族国家的基本版图。

The Shang civilization, with the king as its core and clans as its units, established a solid social structure, laying the foundation for the social order of early China characterized by the integration of family and state.

商文明中以商王为核心、宗族为单元的基本格局，形成了牢固的组织结构，奠定了早期中国"家国同构"的社会秩序。

The bronze vessels of the Shang Dynasty represented the pinnacle of ancient Chinese bronze craftsmanship. As the symbols of rituals, ceremonial protocols, order, and status, they stand out in the world bronze civilization.

商文明中的青铜器代表了中国古代青铜器的最高成就，其中蕴含的礼仪与礼制、秩序与地位，是世界青铜文明的杰出代表。

The script of the Shang Dynasty, represented by the oracle bone scripts, has a history of over 3000 years and predates China's recorded history by approximately 1000 years. That script system has been passed down through generations and played a crucial role in the formation and development of the Chinese nation. It has been a prominent means to carry forward the Chinese civilization, a carrier of the collective memory of the Chinese people, and an embodiment of the Chinese spirit.

以甲骨文为代表的商代文字距今3000多年，把中国信史向上推进了约1000年。其文字体系一脉相承，发展至今，维系了中华民族的形成和发展，成为传承中华文明的重要载体，承载着中华民族共同的记忆，是真正的中华基因。

With rich cultural connotations, the Shang civilization had reached internationally advanced levels in many aspects, making significant contributions to the development of human societies.

商文明丰富的文化内涵，在很多方面都达到了世界先进水平，对人类社会的发展作出了重要贡献。

Upgrading itself by absorbing the achievements of other civilizations and cultures, it became the core cultural genes and the main root of Chinese civilization and laid the foundation for both Chinese and East Asian civilizations as an essential constituent of world civilizations.

商文明上承四方汇集文明之趋势，下启连续不断、多元一体文明之格局，构成了中华文明的主根主脉与核心文化基因，奠定了中华文明和东亚文明的基础，成为世界文明的重要组成部分。

The great Shang civilization is both historical and contemporary, belonging to both the Chinese nation and the whole world. Its spirit still has a profound impact on our lives today, promoting human development and progress through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations.

这是一个伟大的文明！它是中国的，也是世界的；是历史的，也是现代的，其蕴含的精神依然影响着我们当代的生产生活，并通过文明的交流与互鉴影响世界，推动人类的发展进步。（文字来源/殷墟博物馆新馆 英文审校/丁岚 焦丹 童林）