Translate the following words to Chinese:
Title: The Influence and Role of Oracle Bone Script on Chinese Thought and Culture

Abstract

Oracle Bone Script, the earliest known form of Chinese writing, emerged during the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE). This archaic script, inscribed on animal bones and turtle shells, documents various aspects of ancient Chinese culture, religion, and divination practices. This article aims to explore the lasting impact and role that Oracle Bone Script has played in shaping China’s thought and culture. We will examine its influence on religious beliefs, divination rituals, the concept of deities, ancestral worship, and earth deity beliefs, supported by relevant literature and academic references.

Introduction

Oracle Bone Script is an essential part of ancient Chinese culture, embodying various aspects of their society and practices, both religious and secular. Despite its antiquity, its influence persists today, as modern Chinese script has evolved from its roots in Oracle Bone Script. To investigate these enduring legacies, this article will review and analyze the developments in religious thought and culture that were influenced by the Oracle Bone Script.

1. The Influence and Role of Oracle Bone Script on the Development of Ancient Chinese Religious Thought

Oracle Bone Script played a vital role in bridging the connection between early Chinese societies and their spiritual beliefs, serving as a medium for recording religious rituals, ceremonies, and worship practices (1). The script provides valuable insight into early religious perceptions and cosmological beliefs, which still resound in contemporary Chinese religious thought (2).

Examples of primary sources illustrate that Oracle Bone Script was integral to rainmaking rituals, annual ceremonies, and intercessory prayers to ancestral spirits, which eventually developed into more formalized religious practices (3)(4). The script was also used for divination purposes, forecasting future events, and appealing for guidance from the spirit world (5).

2. The Influence and Role of Oracle Bone Script on Ancient Chinese Divination Thought and Culture

Divination in ancient China was a prevalent practice, deeply rooted in the culture and religious beliefs of the time. The Oracle Bone Script, as a method for recording divination queries and outcomes, greatly impacted the development and complexity of Chinese divination practices (6). The script symbolized Chinese divination’s continued relevance as a widely-used practice during the Shang Dynasty (7).

The inclusion of divination-related inscriptions in the Oracle Bone Script suggests the significance of divination as a factor in political decision-making and governance at the time (8)(9). Divination preserved tradition and contributed to the continuity of cultural practices across generations, further solidifying the relevance of the Oracle Bone Script in ancient China (10).

3. The Influence and Role of Oracle Bone Script on Ancient Chinese Deity Thought and Culture

The birth of Chinese religious thought can be traced back to the presence of supernatural beings and divine entities in Oracle Bone Script (11). The Shang Dynasty’s political-religious structure revolved around the worship and appeasement of spirits and deities, which can be observed through surviving inscriptions (12).

The Oracle Bone Script represents an essential foundation for understanding the development of Chinese polytheism and the pantheon of powerful deities that are represented in Chinese mythology and religious beliefs (13)(14). The script reflects the nature of relationships, the hierarchy of divine beings, and the influence of these beings on society, paving the way for further theological development in ancient China (15).

4. The Influence and Role of Oracle Bone Script on Ancient Chinese Ancestral Deity Thought and Culture

A critical component of early Chinese religious thought was the worship and veneration of ancestors, which is evident in the Oracle Bone Script (16). By creating a written record of these practices, the script played an essential role in further developing ancestor worship and reinforcing its importance as a central part of Chinese culture (17).

By analyzing the inscriptions related to ancestors and their interactions with the living, scholars can better understand how the concepts of filial piety and ancestral sacrifice were entrenched in ancient Chinese society (18). The Oracle Bone Script enabled ancestral worship to maintain its significance throughout history and become a defining feature of Chinese culture (19).

5. The Influence and Role of Oracle Bone Script on Ancient Chinese Earth Deity Thought and Culture

Earth deities were considered the guardians of agricultural fertility and prosperity of the land in ancient China. This significance is apparent in the inscriptions found on oracle bones, which address these deities directly and petition them for favorable outcomes (20). As a result, the Oracle Bone Script laid the foundation for earth deity beliefs that continue to influence Chinese culture and religious thought today.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Oracle Bone Script has played a vital role in shaping the formation and development of Chinese thought and culture. By examining its influence on religious thought and practices, divination rituals, deity beliefs, ancestral worship, and earth deity beliefs, one can appreciate the script’s historical importance as a foundational element of Chinese civilization. With continued research in this field, future scholars can reveal further insights into the lasting impact of Oracle Bone Script on Chinese culture.