Decoding history's bones

Wandering relics

Discovered in 1899, inscribed oracle bones were first bought by antique dealers from Anyang and sold to Tianjin and Beijing. There, they were accidentally discovered and collected by late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) official Wang Yirong, epigraphy specialist Wang Xiang and some others. Many of their collections were later donated to Tianjin Museum. Some of the bones were also transported overseas and are now stored in more than 200 institutes across the world, according to Song, the jiaguwen specialist.

"In their long tale, they have met numerous people and passed through many hands and places," he says.

Although later oracle bones were unearthed in archaeological efforts in the Yinxu Ruins, the early batches never returned until this exhibition, which will run until May.

"When the bones were discovered, China was undergoing a tumultuous phase, facing a barrage of influences from foreign cultures. At that time, Chinese people were disheartened and grappling with doubts about their own cultural heritage. But the oracle bones were a gift from ancestors, which enabled them to realize again the country's profound culture and gain courage and confidence to pass it on," says Song.

"The magical bones live in my heart and I think they are eager to return to their origin. Wishes are difficult to realize … I wonder how they will return, even for a while."