Difference between revisions of "Yin Xu" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Archaeological discoveries== | ==Archaeological discoveries== | ||
| − | Yinxu is famous for its [[oracle bone]]s, which were first discovered in [[1899 in archaeology|1899]] by [[Wang Yirong]], director of the Imperial College.<ref name="yinxuArch3">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site. In 1899, Wang Yirong, the director of the Imperial College and a well-known scholar of ancient inscriptions discovered dragon bones (known today as oracle bone inscriptions). He sent his assistants to Xiaotun village in Anyang, and enabled him to confirm that Xiaotun was indeed the Yinxu (Ruins of Yin) in the historical records. In 1917 Wang Guowei successfully deciphered the names in oracle bone inscriptions of Shang ancestors and from these was able to reconstruct the Shang genealogy. It matched the record in Sima Qian’s ‘Shiji’ (Records of the Historian). Thus, the legend of Shang dynasty was confirmed as history and the importance of Yinxu was recognized by the academic world. The first excavations at Yinxu began in 1928. }}</ref> Director Wang was suffering from malaria at the time and was prescribed Longgu ''([[dragon bones]])'' at a traditional Chinese pharmacy. He noticed strange carvings on these bones and concluded that these could be samples of China’s earliest writing. He sent his assistant in search of the source of these bones and they were finally traced to the small village of [[Xiaotun]] just outside of [[Anyang]].<ref name="cctv">{{cite web |url =http://www.cctv.com/program/travelogue/20041118/101442.shtml |title = An Yang, ancient capital of the Shang Dynasty |accessdate = November 30 |accessdaymonth = |accessmonthday = |accessyear = 2008 |author = |last = |first = |authorlink = |coauthors = |date = |year = |month = |format = |work = |publisher = [[China Central Television]] |pages = |doi = |archiveurl = |archivedate = |quote = }}</ref> In [[1917 in archaeology|1917]], [[Wang Guowei]] deciphered the oracle bone inscriptions of the names of the Shang kings and constructed a complete Shang genealogy. This perfectly matched that in the ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'' by [[Sima Qian]] confirming the historical authenticity of the legendary Shang dynasty and the archaeological importance of Yinxu.<ref name="yinxuArch3">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site, In 1899, Wang Yiron, the director of the Imperial College and a well-known scholar of ancient inscriptions discovered dragon bones (known today as oracle bone inscriptions). He sent his assistants to Xiaotun village in Anyang, which enabled him to confirm that Xiaotun was indeed the Yinxu (Ruins of Yin) in the historical records. In 1917 Wang Guowei successfully deciphered the names in oracle bone inscriptions of Shang ancestors and from these was able to reconstruct the Shang genealogy. It matched the record in Sima Qian’s ‘Shiji’ (Records of the Historian). Thus, the Shang dynasty legend was confirmed as history and the importance of Yinxu was recognized by the academic world. The first excavations at Yinxu began in 1928. }}</ref> | + | Yinxu is famous for its [[oracle bone]]s, which were first discovered in [[1899 in archaeology|1899]] by [[Wang Yirong]], director of the Imperial College.<ref>Linfu Dong, ''Cross culture and faith: the life and work of James Mellon Menzies'' (Toronto [u.a.]: Univ. of Toronto Press, 2005), p. 272.</ref><!--<ref name="yinxuArch3">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site. In 1899, Wang Yirong, the director of the Imperial College and a well-known scholar of ancient inscriptions discovered dragon bones (known today as oracle bone inscriptions). He sent his assistants to Xiaotun village in Anyang, and enabled him to confirm that Xiaotun was indeed the Yinxu (Ruins of Yin) in the historical records. In 1917 Wang Guowei successfully deciphered the names in oracle bone inscriptions of Shang ancestors and from these was able to reconstruct the Shang genealogy. It matched the record in Sima Qian’s ‘Shiji’ (Records of the Historian). Thus, the legend of Shang dynasty was confirmed as history and the importance of Yinxu was recognized by the academic world. The first excavations at Yinxu began in 1928. }}</ref>—< Director Wang was suffering from malaria at the time and was prescribed Longgu ''([[dragon bones]])'' at a traditional Chinese pharmacy. He noticed strange carvings on these bones and concluded that these could be samples of China’s earliest writing. He sent his assistant in search of the source of these bones and they were finally traced to the small village of [[Xiaotun]] just outside of [[Anyang]].<ref name="cctv">{{cite web |url =http://www.cctv.com/program/travelogue/20041118/101442.shtml |title = An Yang, ancient capital of the Shang Dynasty |accessdate = November 30 |accessdaymonth = |accessmonthday = |accessyear = 2008 |author = |last = |first = |authorlink = |coauthors = |date = |year = |month = |format = |work = |publisher = [[China Central Television]] |pages = |doi = |archiveurl = |archivedate = |quote = }}</ref> In [[1917 in archaeology|1917]], [[Wang Guowei]] deciphered the oracle bone inscriptions of the names of the Shang kings and constructed a complete Shang genealogy. This perfectly matched that in the ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'' by [[Sima Qian]] confirming the historical authenticity of the legendary Shang dynasty and the archaeological importance of Yinxu.<ref name="yinxuArch3">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = The Discovery of Oracle Bones and the Locating of Yinxu site, In 1899, Wang Yiron, the director of the Imperial College and a well-known scholar of ancient inscriptions discovered dragon bones (known today as oracle bone inscriptions). He sent his assistants to Xiaotun village in Anyang, which enabled him to confirm that Xiaotun was indeed the Yinxu (Ruins of Yin) in the historical records. In 1917 Wang Guowei successfully deciphered the names in oracle bone inscriptions of Shang ancestors and from these was able to reconstruct the Shang genealogy. It matched the record in Sima Qian’s ‘Shiji’ (Records of the Historian). Thus, the Shang dynasty legend was confirmed as history and the importance of Yinxu was recognized by the academic world. The first excavations at Yinxu began in 1928. }}</ref> |
The first excavations at Yinxu were lead by [[Li Chi]] of the Institute of History and Philosophy from [[1928 in archaeology|1928]]-[[1937 in archaeology|37]]. <ref name="yinxuArch4">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = Information Panel | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = Since the first excavation in 1928, archaeologists have been working at the Yinxu site for over seventy years. There have been two main periods of excavation: (1) from 1928-1937, when excavations were carried out by the Institute of History and Philosophy; and (2) since 1950, when the Institute of Archeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (formerly Chinese Academy of Sciences) have been responsible for excavations have yielded some very important results: evidence of stratification of the Hougang site, remains of palaces and temples, royal cemeteries, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze-and bone-workshops and the discovery of the Shang city on the north bank of the Huan(g) River. }}</ref> They uncovered the remains of a royal palace, several royal tombs, and more than 100,000 oracle bones that show the Shang had a well-structured script with a complete system of written signs. <ref name="cctv">{{cite web |url =http://www.cctv.com/program/travelogue/20041118/101442.shtml |title = An Yang, ancient capital of the Shang Dynasty |accessdate = November 30 |accessdaymonth = |accessmonthday = |accessyear = 2008 |author = |last = |first = |authorlink = |coauthors = |date = |year = |month = |format = |work = |publisher = [[China Central Television]] |pages = |doi = |archiveurl = |archivedate = |quote = }}</ref> Since [[1950 in archaeology|1950]] ongoing excavations by the Archeological Institute of the Chinese Social Sciences Academy have uncovered evidence of stratification at the Hougang site, remains of palaces and temples, royal cemeteries, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze and bone workshops and the discovery of the Shang city on the north bank of the [[Yellow River|Huang River]].<ref name="yinxuArch4">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = Information Panel | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = Since the first excavation in 1928, archaeologists have been working at the Yinxu site for over seventy years. There have been two main periods of excavation: (1) from 1928-1937, when excavations were carried out by the Institute of History and Philosophy; and (2) since 1950, when the Institute of Archeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (formerly Chinese Academy of Sciences) have been responsible for excavations have yielded some very important results: evidence of stratification of the Hougang site, remains of palaces and temples, royal cemeteries, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze and bone workshops and the discovery of the Shang city on the north bank of the Huan(g) River. }}</ref> One of the largest and oldest sites of Chinese archaeology, excavations here have laid the foundation for work across the country. | The first excavations at Yinxu were lead by [[Li Chi]] of the Institute of History and Philosophy from [[1928 in archaeology|1928]]-[[1937 in archaeology|37]]. <ref name="yinxuArch4">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = Information Panel | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = Since the first excavation in 1928, archaeologists have been working at the Yinxu site for over seventy years. There have been two main periods of excavation: (1) from 1928-1937, when excavations were carried out by the Institute of History and Philosophy; and (2) since 1950, when the Institute of Archeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (formerly Chinese Academy of Sciences) have been responsible for excavations have yielded some very important results: evidence of stratification of the Hougang site, remains of palaces and temples, royal cemeteries, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze-and bone-workshops and the discovery of the Shang city on the north bank of the Huan(g) River. }}</ref> They uncovered the remains of a royal palace, several royal tombs, and more than 100,000 oracle bones that show the Shang had a well-structured script with a complete system of written signs. <ref name="cctv">{{cite web |url =http://www.cctv.com/program/travelogue/20041118/101442.shtml |title = An Yang, ancient capital of the Shang Dynasty |accessdate = November 30 |accessdaymonth = |accessmonthday = |accessyear = 2008 |author = |last = |first = |authorlink = |coauthors = |date = |year = |month = |format = |work = |publisher = [[China Central Television]] |pages = |doi = |archiveurl = |archivedate = |quote = }}</ref> Since [[1950 in archaeology|1950]] ongoing excavations by the Archeological Institute of the Chinese Social Sciences Academy have uncovered evidence of stratification at the Hougang site, remains of palaces and temples, royal cemeteries, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze and bone workshops and the discovery of the Shang city on the north bank of the [[Yellow River|Huang River]].<ref name="yinxuArch4">{{cite news | first = | last = | authorlink = | author = | coauthors = | title = Information Panel | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Garden Museum of Yin Ruins | pages = | page = | date = | accessdate = | quote = Since the first excavation in 1928, archaeologists have been working at the Yinxu site for over seventy years. There have been two main periods of excavation: (1) from 1928-1937, when excavations were carried out by the Institute of History and Philosophy; and (2) since 1950, when the Institute of Archeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (formerly Chinese Academy of Sciences) have been responsible for excavations have yielded some very important results: evidence of stratification of the Hougang site, remains of palaces and temples, royal cemeteries, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze and bone workshops and the discovery of the Shang city on the north bank of the Huan(g) River. }}</ref> One of the largest and oldest sites of Chinese archaeology, excavations here have laid the foundation for work across the country. | ||
Revision as of 19:53, 30 November 2008
Coordinates:
| Yin Xu* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| |
| State Party |  China
|
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 1114 |
| Region** | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2006 (30th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. | |
Yinxu (Chinese: 殷墟; pinyin: Yīnxū; literally "Ruins of Yin") is the ruins of the last capital of China's Shang Dynasty (1766 B.C.E. - 1050 B.C.E.). The capital served 255 years for 12 kings in 8 generations.
Rediscovered in 1899 it is one of the oldest and largest archeaological sites in China and is one of the Historical capitals of China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in the central Henan province, near the modern city of Anyang, and is open to the public as the Garden Museum of Yinxu.
It is famous as the original source of oracle bones and oracle bone script, the earliest recorded form of Chinese writing.
History
At the beginning of the 14th century B.C.E. King Pangeng of the Shang Dynasty established his capital on the banks of the Huan River. The city was known as Yin, and from that point on the dynasty that founded it would also be known as the Yin Dynasty.[1]
King Wu Ding continued to use Yin as his capital and from this base launched numerous military campaigns (many led by his own wife Fu Hao) against surrounding tribes securing Shang rule and raising the dynasty to its historical zenith.
Later rulers were pleasure-seekers who took no interest in state affairs as social differences increased within the slave-owning society. King Zhòu (紂), the last of the Shang dynasty kings, is in particular remembered as ruthless and debauched. His increasingly autocratic laws alienated the nobility until King Wu of the Zhōu Dynasty (周) was able to gain the support to rise up and overthrow the Shang.
The Zhōu (周) established their capital in Feng and Hao near modern day Xi'an and Yin was abandoned to fall into ruin. These ruins were mentioned by Sima Qian, in his Records of the Grand Historian, but soon they were lost and their location forgotten with the once-great city of Yin being relegated to legend along with the dynasty that founded it.
Archaeological discoveries
Yinxu is famous for its oracle bones, which were first discovered in 1899 by Wang Yirong, director of the Imperial College.[2]
