What do oracle-bone inscriptions reveal about the Shang dynasty?

Oracle-bone inscriptions, known as jiaguwen, are the earliest known body of Chinese writing and provide essential evidence for the historical existence of the Shang dynasty. These inscriptions, found primarily at the royal capital of Anyang, were created by applying heat to cattle scapulae or turtle plastrons and interpreting the resulting stress cracks as omens.8123

These records reveal significant details about Shang society:

• Religious and Divinatory Practices: The inscriptions document a complex ritual system involving ancestor worship and prayers to spirits for harvests, weather, and military success. They also mention the remote deity Di, who was believed to control fate but received no direct cult.2456
• Political Structure: The records confirm a lineage-based state where kings, known as wang, maintained power through kinship ties and ritualized dependency.56
• Daily Life and Governance: Divination topics covered a wide range of state concerns, including campaigns, hunts, sickness, childbearing, and the issuance of royal orders.27
• Linguistic Development: With over 3,000 identified characters, these inscriptions demonstrate a sophisticated script that serves as the direct ancestor of modern Chinese writing.81