Research on the Prognostications of the Oracle Bone Inscriptions during Wu Ding Era: Cases of the Shi Group, Bin Group, Chu Group, Li Group, and Hua-Dong Group
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
Ho, Tsan-Sheng
Abstract
This thesis focuses on patterns of textual usage (wenli文例) in oracle bone inscriptions, and deals with the arrangement and classification of oracle bone prognostications (chan-tz’u占辭) during the reign of Emperor Wu Ding 武丁 (ca. 1250 B.C.-ca.1150 B.C.) An oracle bone inscription usually consists of a preface (敘辭), a charge (命辭), a prognostication(占辭), and a verification (驗辭). Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend the inscription because of the omission of one or more elements. However, the systematic analysis of prognostications allows for much improved interpretation of these difficult inscriptions. Chapter two and three discuss the inscriptions’ patterns of textual usage, including grammatical structure and inscription placement, as well as analyzing differences between the employment of scapulas and turtle shells. It also compares the king’s divination inscriptions (王卜辭), such as the Shi group, Bing group, and Chu group, with the prince’s divination inscriptions (非王卜辭) of the Huadong group. Chapter four classifies the themes of these prognostications during the Wu Ding era, which include sacrifice, meteorological occurrences, harvest, warfare, and childbirth. Chapter five analyzes the relationship between prognostications and verifications, and shows that due to the structure of the prognostications, instances in which the verification greatly differs from the prognostication are extremely rare. Chapter six offers a conclusion in regard to the above discussions.
Subjects
oracle bones
prognostications
wen li
Bin group
SDGs
Type
thesis
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