History Museum of Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed in Yin Ruins: Four generations protect the cultural heritage of both sides of the Taiwan Strait

The picture shows the "Yin Ruins Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed History Museum". Photo provided by interviewee

On the eve of the National Day holiday, Anyang, Henan Province, the “hometown of Oracle,” released new results on Oracle research. After carefully studying the news, 34-year-old Zhang Dongliang, a villager in Xiaotun Village, Anyang, shared the news with Taiwanese scholar Li Xiuping.

He wrote in the email, "Big data and artificial intelligence are deeply supporting the research of oracle bone science. We are sincerely happy and can't wait to share these results with you. This is also the result of the continuous efforts of generations of oracle bone scholars."

Anyang is the location of the Yin Ruins, a world cultural heritage. Recently, reporters from China News Service visited the Zhang Family Courtyard in Xiaotun Village, Anyang, which was renovated into the "Yin Ruins Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed History Museum" in 2023 by Zhang Dongliang and his father Zhang Siping. Autumn is coming, and the four old trees in front of the courtyard are covered with red persimmons.

For the Zhang family, who have lived here for generations, the Yin Ruins are not only a historical site, but also a precious link across the Taiwan Strait that connects the cultural heritage and nostalgia of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Autumn colors in one courtyard hide memories of oracle bones on both sides of the Taiwan Strait

The Yin Ruins are the first capital ruins of the late Shang Dynasty in Chinese history that have documented documents and have been confirmed by archeology and oracle bone inscriptions. During the National Day holiday, the Yinxu Palace and Ancestral Temple ruins were visited by huge crowds of tourists.

The picture shows a group photo taken before and after the meeting before the first official excavation of the Yin Ruins in Xiaotun Village, Anyang, Henan Province in 1928. Dong Zuobin is third from the right and Zhang Xuexian is the third left. Photo provided by interviewee

The "Yin Ruins Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed History Museum" is less than 100 meters away. Pushing through the door, the nearly 200-square-meter exhibition hall is filled with precious early archaeological historical materials of the Yin Ruins: old archaeological photos (photocopies), handwritten excavation records (photocopies), reproduced oracle bone documents, etc. are displayed in an orderly manner.

In the most eye-catching position of the exhibition hall, an enlarged black-and-white old photo attracts the attention of visitors: On the eve of the first excavation of Yin Ruins in 1928, Zhang Dongliang's great-grandfather Zhang Xuexian stood side by side with Dong Zuobin and other archaeologists, capturing the precious moment of the beginning of the archeology of Yin Ruins in China.

The picture shows Zhang Siping introducing historical museum materials to visitors. Photo provided by interviewee

Back in 1928, Chinese archaeologists such as Dong Zuobin, "the first person to excavate the Yin Ruins", wielded the first shovel in Xiaotun Village. As the head of the seven surrounding villages, Zhang Xuexian is responsible for recruiting archaeological team workers, ensuring logistics, and guarding the Yin Ruins ruins.

"At that time, my yard was the 'workstation' of the archaeological team, where Dong Zuobin and others had their offices, food and accommodation." Zhang Dongliang's father, Zhang Siping, said, "The YH127 pit with the largest number of oracle bones unearthed in the Yin Ruins archaeological excavation is in my family's land."

The picture shows Zhang Siping introducing historical museum materials to visitors. Photo by Wang Jianing

In 1937, after 15 excavations at the Yin Ruins, a massive amount of oracle bone inscriptions and bronzes were discovered, shocking both at home and abroad. Zhang Xuexian participated in the entire process, and his family also formed a deep friendship with the archaeological team members.

In 1937, the excavation of Yin Ruins was forced to stop, and Dong Zuobin and others moved to Taiwan.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Zhang Dongliang's grandfather Zhang Shukai maintained correspondence with Taiwanese scholars. The young Zhang Siping often helped his father collect those cross-sea letters with exquisite lace. A piece of paper became a link connecting the cultural contexts of both sides of the Taiwan Strait during the turbulent years, but later the connection was severed due to the current situation.

A plain piece of paper, searching for pulse across the sea for forty years

"These precious archaeological stories of the Yin Ruins are the common memory of both sides of the Taiwan Strait and should not be lost in the dust of history." In order to continue this precious archaeological memory of the Yin Ruins, Zhang Siping embarked on a decades-long search since 1983. He wrote his contact number and home address on small pieces of paper, and went for a walk in the Yin Ruins scenic area whenever he had time.

"Whenever I meet Taiwanese tourists, I ask them to take the note to the local area. Although it is clumsy, it is the only way I can think of." Zhang Siping recalled.

A few months later, Zhang Siping received a letter from Dong Min, Dong Zuobin's son, with a phone number on the letter. Zhang Siping recalled, "We called each other and mentioned the past events of our grandparents' generation, and both of us were very excited."

The picture shows Dong Min (right), a descendant of Dong Zuobin, and Zhang Siping taking a group photo after meeting each other in 2008. Photo provided by interviewee

Over the next 40 years or so, Zhang Siping searched extensively and successively contacted descendants of great archaeologists such as Guo Baojun and Ming Yishi. He also formed deep friendships with Wang Shuli, Li Xiuping and many Taiwanese scholars who studied the Yin Ruins and Oracle Bone Inscriptions. To this day, Taiwanese scholars will send him photocopies of Yin Ruins archaeological reports, monographs, old photos, etc., which makes him happy for a long time every time.

The picture shows Zhang Dongliang (first from right) introducing historical museum materials to Chen Yuming, a visiting scholar from Taiwan. Photo provided by interviewee

With cross-strait exchanges, Zhang Siping collected a large amount of early excavation data of the Yin Ruins, and the scattered archaeological memories of the Yin Ruins were pieced together, restored, and treasured bit by bit.

The picture shows the interior of the "Yin Ruins Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed History Museum". Photo by Wang Jianing

In 2023, the "Yin Ruins Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed History Museum" renovated from the Zhangjia Xiaoyuan was officially opened. The plaque was inscribed by Wang Yuxin, a famous oracle bone researcher. Many Taiwanese scholars, including Wang Shuli and Chen Yuming, made a special trip from Baodao to visit. After visiting, Wang Shuli said, "Thank you for your continued efforts to promote Yinxu culture and record this period of history."

The picture shows Taiwanese scholar Wang Shuli leaving a message after visiting the history museum. Photo provided by interviewee

Li Xiuping, a Taiwanese scholar who was unable to attend the event, wrote to Zhang Siping specifically, praising his original intention in establishing the museum: "It is valuable and a blessing that you established the 'Yinxu Oracle Excavation History Museum' in Xiaotun Village. I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit your museum in the future."

Mountains and rivers shine together, looking forward to the journey home together

Now, the baton of cultural inheritance has been handed over to the "post-90s generation" Zhang Dongliang. He is deeply involved in the dissemination of oracle bone culture, opening public welfare study classes, and taking young people to understand the Yinxu culture. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, he also sent photos of his 6-year-old daughter and Yinxu cultural and creative products to Li Xiuping.

The picture shows Zhang Dongliang (first from left) introducing historical museum materials to visitors. Photo provided by interviewee

The picture shows Zhang Dongliang leading young people to study and experience Yinxu culture. Photo provided by interviewee

The picture shows Zhang Dongliang introducing historical museum materials to visitors. Photo by Wang Jianing

The picture shows Li Ning (second from right), a descendant of Li Ji, and Zeng Mude (third from right), a descendant of Dong Zuobin, taking a group photo with Zhang Siping and Zhang Dongliang. Photo provided by interviewee

"Nearly a hundred years have passed since the first archeology of the Yin Ruins. Why must we maintain contact with Taiwan?" Faced with a question from a reporter from China News Service, Zhang Siping was silent for a long time, then took off his glasses and wiped away his tears.

"The Yin Ruins are a link and a cultural context that can connect the hearts of both sides of the Taiwan Strait." Zhang Siping, who is nearly 70 years old, has always cherished a simple wish: to go to the treasure island in his lifetime and tell the new development of the Yin Ruins and the new stories of the oracle bone inscriptions to his old friends across the Taiwan Strait.

The picture shows Zhang Siping crying during an interview with China News Service. Photo by Wang Jianing

From the great-grandfather's assistance in archeology, to the grandfather's insistence on exchanges, to his father's search for blood across the sea, the younger generation has continued to spread the word, and four generations have taken root in the courtyard. After nearly a hundred years and thousands of miles, they have protected the common cultural roots of both sides of the Taiwan Strait. This persistence is the best testimony that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same roots and are closely related by blood.

Reporter: Wang Jianing