Learn about itLearn onlyHistorical practice
This page describes the practice. There is deliberately no automated reading for it — see the notes below.
Background
Oracle bones are pieces of ox scapula and turtle plastron used in divination by fire during the Late Shang period. About 13,000 bones with over 130,000 inscriptions survive in collections in China and some fourteen other countries.
How it works
Diviners applied heat until the bone cracked, read the cracks, and inscriptions were often carved on the bone.
Notes and limits
Safety: Described as history only. Never harm animals for divination.
At a glance
- Also called
- Jiaguwen, 甲骨文, Plastromancy, Pyro-osteomancy
- Traditions
- Shang dynasty Chinese
- Regions
- East Asia
- You need
- Nothing
- Price
- Free