What does Oracle Bone Inscriptions mean by cutting words?

Brief introduction to the course of ancient philology

This course is a public elective course. The content of the lecture is mainly the basic knowledge of ancient philology. Including the recognition and reading of ancient Chinese characters (Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Bronze inscriptions, Xiao Zhuan); The structural theory of the ancient Chinese character "Liushu"; Cultural knowledge contained in ancient Chinese characters; The evolution of ancient calligraphy and so on. This course is mainly taught, with 30 class hours. Through the study of this course, we can improve our ability to read ancient Chinese characters, deeply understand the original thinking and culture behind Chinese characters, cultivate artistic sentiment and enhance scientific and humanistic quality.

Curriculum outline of ancient philology

Ancient philology is a science that studies the evolution and structural theory of Chinese characters. The research objects of ancient philology are Oracle Bone Inscriptions, bronze inscriptions in Yin and Zhou Dynasties and Warring States scripts, involving the research survey and selected readings of Oracle Bone Inscriptions, bronze inscriptions in Yin Ruins and Warring States scripts. The research object of Shuowen is Shuowen Jiezi, which involves the author, compilation intention, value and limitation, arrangement style, research survey, Chinese character structure, radical selection and so on.

First, the basic content and research survey of ancient philology

(1) Overview of the research on Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Yin Ruins.

Yin Ruins are the ruins of the capital in the late Shang Dynasty, located in Xiaotun Village in the north of Anyang, Henan Province. Oracle Bone Inscriptions unearthed in Yin Ruins is called Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Yin Ruins. (It is about Oracle Bone Inscriptions unearthed in Erligang, Zhengzhou, Fangdui Village, Hongdong County, Shanxi Province, Zhangjiapo, Chang 'an County, Shaanxi Province, Western Zhou Tomb, Changping County, Beijing, and Fengqi Village, Qishan County, Shaanxi Province. )

There are many names of Oracle Bone Inscriptions, such as Wen Jia, tortoise shell, tortoise shell, tortoise carving, Wen Qi, Shu Qi in Yin Ruins, Yin Qi, Zhenbu, Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Yin Ruins, etc. In contrast, the name "Oracle Bone Inscriptions" is more accurate. The so-called "armor" refers to tortoise shells, and the so-called "bone" mainly refers to the shoulder blades of cattle. Oracle Bone Inscriptions is usually carved with a knife or written on Oracle Bone Inscriptions with a brush. Since 1899 was first discovered in Oracle Bone Inscriptions, there are about150,000 pieces of Oracle bones in the world, and the total number of words is about100,000 words. There are more than 4,500 words that are not repeated, and only 1000 words can be known at present. Witchcraft flourished in the Yin Dynasty, and whenever the Yin people encountered important or difficult things, they asked the gods for divination. Oracle Bone Inscriptions is a tool for divination. By burning Oracle Bone Inscriptions, signs (cracks) appear to predict good luck or bad luck. The so-called Oracle Bone Inscriptions is the record made on the Oracle bones during divination. )

Oracle Bone Inscriptions staging is a very important link in the study of Oracle Bone Inscriptions. Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Yin Ruins has a time span of at least 200 years. The so-called staging is to determine which king they belong to in the late Shang Dynasty according to the content and characteristics of Oracle Bone Inscriptions. Wang Guowei passed the appellation in Oracle Bone Inscriptions and Historical Records, and took the Xiangong and Xianwang in Yin Oracle Bone Inscriptions and the Continuing Examination. The comparison of Yin lineage in Yin Benji determined the age of some Oracle Bone Inscriptions, which started the dating of Oracle Bone Inscriptions. Later, Dong Zuobin, Chen, Li Xueqin and others all made important contributions to the Oracle bone dating. Among them, Dong Zuobin divided Oracle Bone Inscriptions into five periods 12 kings. The first period included four second kings, namely Pan Geng, Xiao Xin, Xiaoyi and Wu Ding. The second phase includes two kings, namely Zu Geng and Zujia; The third period includes two kings, namely Yan Xin and Kangding; The fourth period includes two kings, namely Wuyi and Wen Ding; The fifth period included two kings, Dee and Di Xin.

Oracle Bone Inscriptions was first discovered in 1899. Over the past 100 years, the study of Oracle Bone Inscriptions has gone through the pioneer period (1899- 1909), the foundation period (191928) and the formation period (1928- At present, it has developed into a mature and important discipline, which has experienced seven stages: climax (1949- 1966), stagnation (1966- 1976) and prosperity.