Three Fragmentary Oracle-Bone Inscriptions

Brushed by the eminent archaeologist Dong Zuobin, the three main inscriptions on this scroll are written in oracle-bone calligraphy, called jiaguwen in Chinese, an ancient script carved into bone or shell as part of divination rituals. Here, Dong copies the inscriptions found on an excavated cow scapula from Xiaotun numbered 3339. Oracle bones, which date to the Shang dynasty (circa 1250-1045 BCE), were not discovered until the early 20th century. As one of the principal excavators of the ancient Shang capital at Anyang where many of these were first excavated, Dong was a pioneering scholar in the decipherment and dating of Shang oracle-bone inscriptions.

Dong’s scholarly inclinations are evident in this hanging scroll, which accurately reproduces the oracle-bone inscription in both meaning and appearance. The vermillion ink added to half of the inscription emulates the residual pigmentation found on the original bone. Furthermore, Dong contextualizes the calligraphy by depicting the actual divination cracks. These cracks were formed during the divination process called pyromancy in which hot sticks were applied to the surface of the bone, causing it to crack. While the principal aim of divination was to communicate with the deceased, these inscriptions which describe events ranging from the mundane to the profound have provided an unprecedented window into the life and mind of the Shang.