What do you think of Oracle Bone Inscriptions's successful selection in Memory of the World?

A few days ago, the website of UNESCO released a message that Oracle Bone Inscriptions declared by China successfully passed the evaluation of the International Advisory Committee of UNESCO Memory of the World Project and was successfully selected into the Memory of the World List.

Oracle Bone Inscriptions is the earliest documentary record discovered in China, which was unearthed in the ruins of Yinxu in Anyang, Henan. In the late Shang Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago, it was used for divination and prayer. Thanks to the development of Chinese characters from Oracle Bone Inscriptions to today, the development of Chinese civilization has never stopped, which provides unique and true first-hand information for the study of China's splendid history of civilization and the early formation of the country and society.

Oracle Bone Inscriptions's discovery was a coincidence. 1899, the epigraphist Wang found similar characters on the Chinese medicine keel he bought back, so he bought all the 12 keels left in the drugstore-fortunately, he was a epigraphist-and verified that this was the Shang Dynasty script, which was called "the father of Oracle Bone Inscriptions" by later generations.

From 1928, when the Institute of History and Linguistics of Academia Sinica officially excavated Yin Ruins (located in Anyang City, Henan Province) to 1937, archaeologists excavated Yin Ruins for 15 times, and nearly 2,500 pieces of Oracle bones were unearthed. After liberation, the Institute of Archaeology of China Academy of Sciences also made many important discoveries.

Oracle Bone Inscriptions's excavation solved the embarrassment of the Shang Dynasty that there were only written records but no physical proof, and revised some details.

Like the "5,000-year history", we usually think that Oracle Bone Inscriptions is the earliest written language, which is inaccurate. It should be said that Oracle Bone Inscriptions is the oldest mature written language found at present. Oracle Bone Inscriptions (including a large number of other cultural relics unearthed together, such as jade, pottery, bronze and so on, represented by Simu Wuding. ) not only confirmed the existence of Shang Dynasty, but also brought great convenience for us to study the history of Shang Dynasty, because Oracle Bone Inscriptions comprehensively recorded all social fields of Shang Dynasty.

In short, Oracle Bone Inscriptions is the divination record of Shang King. At that time, divination was not a superstition we now think. During the Enlightenment, every nation in the world had a ritual of offering sacrifices to heaven and earth and communicating with God. In addition to asking about the worship of ghosts and gods, the Shang king asked about the weather, year, hunting, conquest, transportation, tribute, civil engineering and other matters, and even asked about the auspicious date of birth and good or bad luck. For example, Wang Wuding, the recorder of Oracle Bone Inscriptions, put his wife's health (health is the first female politician and strategist in China history) within three days, which is the first scientific record of the expected date of delivery in the world.

Oracle Bone Inscriptions is not only the precious cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, but also the spiritual wealth of mankind. Oracle Bone Inscriptions's successful selection into the Memory of the World Register marks the world's high recognition of Oracle Bone Inscriptions's important cultural value and historical significance, and plays an important role in promoting the international community's understanding and understanding of Oracle Bone Inscriptions and profound Chinese excellent traditional culture; It plays an important role in enhancing the pride of the Chinese nation and enhancing cultural self-confidence.