The Dragon Bones That Turned Out to Be Writing
For centuries, Chinese pharmacies ground up 'dragon bones' as medicine. Then a scholar noticed writing on them, and they turned out to be China's oldest records.
What was reported
In traditional Chinese medicine, 'dragon bones' were old bones dug from the ground, ground into powder and sold as a cure. Farmers near Anyang found them in their fields and sold them to pharmacies.
In 1899, a scholar named Wang Yirong is said to have spotted ancient characters carved on some pieces. They were oracle bones: ox shoulder blades and turtle shells used by the kings of the Shang dynasty more than 3,000 years ago to ask questions of their ancestors.
Explanations offered
The 'dragon bones' were divination records: heat was applied until the bone cracked, the cracks were read as answers, and the question and answer were carved on the bone. They are the oldest known Chinese writing, and led archaeologists to Yinxu, the last Shang capital, near Anyang.
- When
- Recognised in 1899
- Where
- Anyang, Henan, China
- Witnesses
- Chinese scholars and archaeologists
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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