Context (Field collection)
Found: From the great tumulus of the Shang Dynasty, two miles from Chang-te- Fu, Honan
Date: 1766 - 1123 BC
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Related Documents)
A typed note attached to the catalogue card reads: "Ancient Chinese Inscribed Bones - These two fragments are from the great tumulus of the Shang Dynasty (1766 - 1123 BC), two miles from Chang-te-Fu, Honan. These inscribed bones, tortoise-shells and amulets were first made known in 1899. The work of Mr. L.C. Hopkins, Messrs Liu, Lo and Wang have now proved that they contain the names of 23 of the 30 kings of the Shang Dynasty. Mr. L.C. Hopkins, I.S.O made the transcription and translation here shown (Sept 1922)"
Event Date 9/1922
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card for 1927.835 A-B: 'Fragments of incised bone mounted with translations'
Event Date 1927
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Related Documents)
A written note on the back of the catalogue card reads: "These bones are now known as 'oracle bones' and much work is being done on their dating. It is thought that the earliest are about 1400 BC. As a rule they are written on tortoise shell, but sometimes on animal bones as are these examples of oracle writing, Information 22 Jan. 1952, from anonymous informant"
Event Date 22/1/1952
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Related Documents)
There are rubbings of the bones, made by Mme Qi Wenxin on 16 May 1983 for inclusion in 'Oracle Bone Collections in Great Britain', housed in the archive (BR2/1/6).
Event Date 16/5/1983
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
Li. (1985). Ying-guo suo cang jia gu ji (Oracle Bone Collections in Great Britain), Vol. 1 i-ii. Bejing. no. 1244
Event Date 1985
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Description (Inscription)
Translation provided by Charles Aylmer: The characters have been translated as asking whether the: 'king' [should] 'use an ox'.
Event Date 20/4/2016
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
Oracle bone with incised text. Probably cattle scapula.
Event Date 20/4/2016
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Related Documents)
The translation mentioned in the catalogue card, made by L.C. Hopkins who was the donor of the University Library's considerable oracle bone collection, is not stored with the catalogue card and is no longer mounted with the bones.
Event Date 20/4/2016
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Description (Physical description)
Oracle bone, probably of cattle scapula. On obverse, incised characters and fine cracks from the divination process. On reverse, modern concretion partially obscures multiple divination pits that correspond to the cracks on the obverse, evidence of burning is visible.
Event Date 09/5/2016
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Analysis)
On 6 May 2016, Charles Aylmer, Head of the Chinese Department, Cambridge University Library, viewed this bone. He provided the English translation of the inscription, based on 'Oracle Bone Collections in Great Britain'. He summarised it thusly: 'it is a royal inscription, either by the king himself or on his behalf, relating to using an ox, probably for sacrifice'.
Event Date 9/5/2016
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Analysis)
Charles Aylmer, the Head of the Chinese Department at Cambridge University Library stated to Helen Alderson in an email (6/10/21) that this oracle bone is from the period of King Wu Ding 吳丁 (1250-1192 BC). Alderson has therefore updated the record's date from "Shang Dynasty" to "Shang Dynasty; Period of King Wu Ding 吳丁; 1250-1192 BC, Shang Dynasty".
Event Date 30/9/2021
Author: Helen Alderson

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Context (Analysis)
Peichao Qin identified this object as turtle plastron; upper-left hypoplastron. He provided the following English translation: 'Divined: King [...] It will be on tomorrow [...] (that we will) use six cattle.'
Event Date 25/11/2024
Author: Lily Pencliffe

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Description (Physical description)
Oracle bone of turtle plastron. On obverse, incised characters and fine cracks from the divination process. On reverse, modern concretion partially obscures multiple divination pits that correspond to the cracks on the obverse, evidence of burning is visible. The characters have been translated: 'Divined: King [...] It will be on tomorrow [...] (that we will) use six cattle.'
Event Date 26/11/2024
Author: Lily Pencliffe