Question

are some of the most important sources for scholars who study ancient china.
the following texts come from oracle bones found near the archaeological site of the shang capital city of yinxu (yin-shoo). read the texts. then answer the question below.
oracle bone 1
we should offer to deceased kings xiang jia, father geng, and father xin one cow.
oracle bone 2
this season, the king will raise five thousand men to campaign against a neighboring tribe.
if you were a scholar reading these texts, what conclusions could you make? select all that apply:
oracles used oracle bones to choose the next king.
oracles used oracle bones to make decisions about what to sacrifice to the ancestors.
oracles did not use oracle bones during some seasons.
oracles used oracle bones to make predictions about war.

Explanation:

• Oracle bone 1 mentions offering sacrifices to deceased kings, showing oracle bones were used for sacrifice-related decisions for ancestors.
• Oracle bone 2 discusses a military campaign, indicating oracle bones were used for war-related predictions.
• There is no evidence in the texts that oracle bones were used to choose the next king, nor that they were unused in some seasons.

Answer:

• B. Oracles used oracle bones to make decisions about what to sacrifice to the ancestors.
• D. Oracles used oracle bones to make predictions about war.