Bone divination
Oracle bones were first fully excavated from the Anyang site in China in 1899.
They are mostly ox scapula and turtle shells which cracked when burned. Their use as a method of divination in China seems to date back to the middle of the Shang Dynasty, probably in the reign of PangGeng, around 1350 BC. The diviner would inscribe on the bone or shell his name, and then inscribe two possible outcomes on the shell. Depending on how the fired object cracked, diviners would interpret the answer from them. For example:
"Tomorrow it will rain"
"Tomorrow it will not rain"
The outcome was then inscribed on the bone and saved.
They were also called dragon bones.
Referenced By
Ceromancy | Divination
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