China to hold exhibition to mark 120th anniversary of oracle bone inscriptions discovery

The National Museum of China will for the first time exhibit its oracle bone collections on a large scale to mark the 120th anniversary of the discovery of oracle bone inscriptions.

The exhibition, which is set to open on Oct 22, will display nearly 190 items of oracle bones, bronze works, jade and books.

The exhibition will offer a glimpse into the discovery of oracle bone inscriptions, the society of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.) when oracle bones were used for divination and the research on oracle bone inscriptions.

Jiaguwen, or oracle bone inscriptions, are an ancient Chinese language named for their inscriptions on tortoise shells and animal bones. They are a primitive form of Chinese characters and the oldest fully-developed characters in China.