Yinxu

Yinxu is the archaeological site of the late Shang dynasty capital near Anyang, China. Its royal tombs and oracle-bone inscriptions provide direct evidence of Shang political life, writing, and ritual.

Tomb of Fu Hao: A richly furnished Shang royal tomb discovered intact at Yinxu in 1976. Its weapons, vessels, and jade reveal the status and burial practices of a named royal woman.
Shang dynasty: A Bronze Age Chinese dynasty traditionally dated to about 1600–1046 BCE. Yinxu is identified with the dynasty’s late capital and its final rulers.
Wang Yirong: A Qing official and scholar who recognized the significance of inscribed oracle bones in 1899. His recognition helped launch the study of the inscriptions later excavated at Yinxu.
Chinese historiography: The study and practice of writing history in China. Yinxu inscriptions connected some traditionally transmitted accounts of Shang rulers with contemporary evidence.
Oracle bones: Animal bones and turtle shells bearing inscriptions used in ancient Chinese divination. Thousands excavated at Yinxu record questions posed to royal ancestors and predictions of events.
Anyang: A city in Henan province, China, beside which the archaeological site of Yinxu lies. The modern city provides the geographic reference for locating the ancient capital.
Li Ji: A Chinese archaeologist who directed major excavations at Yinxu beginning in 1928. His fieldwork established systematic archaeological investigation at the site.
Chinese paleography: The study of the historical forms and development of Chinese writing. Oracle-bone texts from Yinxu provide foundational material for tracing early script forms.
Houmuwu Ding: A monumental bronze ritual vessel cast during the Shang dynasty. This vessel, found near Yinxu, demonstrates the scale and technical skill of Shang bronze casting.
Oracle bone script: The earliest substantial body of Chinese writing, inscribed on bones and shells for divination. Yinxu yielded the largest known corpus, making the site central to studying early Chinese writing.

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Wu DingBroader topic: Excavations there uncovered the oracle bones that document his court.