Final answer:
Oracle bones were used in ancient Chinese divination practices during the Shang dynasty to seek advice from ancestors and deities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Oracle Bones in Ancient Chinese Divination
In ancient Chinese divination practices, oracle bones were used to communicate with ancestors and deities. During the Shang dynasty, these practices were integral to making decisions, especially for royalty. Diviners would pose questions about the future, such as outcomes of military campaigns or the success of harvests. After performing a ritual, characters were carved on the bones or turtle plastrons which would then be heated until cracks formed. These cracks were interpreted as answers from the spiritual realm. The process was so valued that it involved significant labor, with a single divination session requiring upwards of 100 hours of work. The inscriptions on the oracle bones later provided critical insights into Shang society, as they are among the earliest forms of Chinese writing, laying the groundwork for modern Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing systems. Oracle bone divination was not just for the king, but also for the elite and ordinary people, suggesting its widespread significance across the society.
Diviners interpreted cracks formed by heating the bones after posing questions about the future. This practice was crucial in decision-making and has provided insights into early Chinese script and Shang society.
Furthermore, Shang society was heavily influenced by these divination rituals, reflecting the belief that kings acted as intermediaries between the spirit world and their people. Inscriptions on oracle bones have provided valuable information for modern scholars trying to understand the social and religious contexts of the time.