ABSTRACT
Oracle-bone inscriptions from the Shang dynasty represent the earliest mature Chinese script. Writing played an important role in Chinese culture and history and was used in the areas such as religion, administration, the collection and dissemination of knowledge, and daily life. This chapter addresses four main topics: (1) the formation and development of Chinese characters, from oracle-bone inscriptions, to bronze inscriptions, inscriptions on bamboo slips, and clerical script (lishu 隸書); (2) the types and characteristics of Chinese characters: Chinese characters constitute a logographic script, which ancient scholars analyzed according to “six categories” (liushu 六書); (3) the content of writing in different periods: for example, divinations on oracle-bone inscriptions, sacrifices and rituals in bronze inscriptions, and intellectuals’ thoughts and ideas in bamboo manuscripts; (4) final reflections on script and writing in early China, particularly the challenges facing scholars today.
