How are Oracle bones used?
Oracle bones were used in ancient China for divination purposes. Here is a detailed description of how they were used:
1. Preparation: The diviner, usually a noble or a priest, would first prepare the oracle bones. They would clean and polish the bones (typically turtle shells or bones from ox scapulae) and then drill small holes into them. These holes were used to inscribe the question or request for information.
2. Inscriptions: The diviner would then carefully inscribe the question on the bone using a sharp tool, often a heated metal rod. They would write the question in a specific divinatory script, which consisted of a combination of ancient Chinese characters and symbols.
3. Heating: Once the inscriptions were complete, the oracle bone would be heated. This process was called pyroscapulimancy. The diviner would use a hot poker to apply heat to the bone's surface until it cracked due to thermal shock. The cracks that formed were believed to reveal the answer from the spiritual realm.
4. Interpretation: The diviner would examine the cracks on the bone and interpret them as messages from the gods or ancestors. These cracks were read as auspicious or inauspicious signs, and the diviner would deduce the message accordingly. The diviner's expertise and knowledge were crucial in understanding and interpreting the messages correctly.
5. Recording: A scribe would record the inscriptions, cracks, and the diviner's interpretation on the oracle bone itself or on a separate wooden or bamboo slip. This was done to keep a record of the divination session and for future reference.
6. Commemoration: Once the oracle bones were interpreted, they were often buried or kept in special ritual spaces as an offering to the ancestor or deity contacted during the divination. These bones could also be used for subsequent divination sessions.
Oracle bones were an essential part of the Shang Dynasty's religious and political practices, where rulers sought guidance on matters like weather, farming, warfare, personal decisions, and state affairs. The divination process allowed them to make important decisions based on divine messages received through the oracle bones.