Ancient Chinese Oracle Turtle Plastrons

In the heart of ancient China, nearly 3,000 years ago, a unique form of divination took place—one that involved the mysterious cracked shells of turtles. These oracle turtle plastrons, unearthed from sites like Anyang in Henan Province, were not mere artifacts; they were sacred tools used by the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) to communicate with the divine.

The process was intricate and ritualistic. Priests would heat metal rods and press them against the plastrons, causing the shells to crack in patterns. These cracks were then interpreted as messages from the ancestors and deities. Some of the largest plastrons measured up to 30 centimeters across, meticulously inscribed with ancient Chinese characters that reveal crucial insights into the society’s beliefs, governance, and daily concerns.

Remarkably, these oracle bones, as they are collectively known, are the oldest form of Chinese writing discovered to date, dating back to around 1200 BCE. They provide vital information about the Shang Dynasty’s political structure and even early Chinese medicine, revealing that ancient Chinese physicians were already treating ailments with remarkable knowledge of herbs and acupuncture.

Today, thousands of these oracle bones have been recovered, holding within them the echoes of a civilization’s voice. Each plastron is a window into a world where the divine and the mundane were inseparably linked, captivating archaeologists and historians alike with their enigmatic allure and compelling narratives from a long-lost past.