Review of: Adam C. Schwartz. The Oracle Bone Inscriptions from Huayuanzhuang East. Boston/Berlin: Walter de Gruyter Inc., 2019. Divinatory Inscriptions from the Eastern Sector of Huayuanzhuang in Yinxu

A comprehensive analysis of divinatory inscriptions on oracle bones from the Eastern Sector of Huayuanzhuang in Yinxu reveals intricate details about the daily activities, rituals, and social structure of the Shang elite during the 13th–12th centuries BC. Unlike previous studies focusing on the Shang ruler, this research highlights a lesser-known figure, Zi, presumed to be the son of the wang, as the primary client for these divinations. By meticulously translating and interpreting over 500 inscriptions, Adam C. Schwartz offers unprecedented insights into the hierarchical relationships, ceremonial practices, and cultural norms of the Shang dynasty's ruling class. This work not only expands our understanding of ancient Chinese epigraphy but also provides a nuanced portrait of the political and social dynamics within one of China's earliest dynasties.

Kulikov, D. Ye. (2022). Review of: Adam C. Schwartz. The Oracle Bone Inscriptions from Huayuanzhuang East. Boston/Berlin: Walter de Gruyter Inc., 2019. Divinatory Inscriptions from the Eastern Sector of Huayuanzhuang in Yinxu. Oriental Courier, (4), 229. https://doi.org/10.18254/s268684310023835-6