China News Service, Anyang, Henan, October 5th. Title: "The Covenant of Yin Ruins" is in the small courtyard, with an oracle bone system on both sides of the bank.
Author Wang Jianing
On the eve of National Day this year, Anyang, Henan Province, the “hometown of Oracle,” officially released new results on Oracle research. Zhang Dongliang, a "post-90s" villager in Anyang Xiaotun Village, immediately shared the news with Taiwanese scholar Li Xiuping that "big data and artificial intelligence are deeply supporting oracle bone research".
The Yin Ruins located in Xiaotun Village is not only a world heritage for the Zhang Dongliang family who have lived here for generations, but also a spiritual link that maintains the oracle bone relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait for decades.
In 1928, Chinese archaeologists such as Dong Zuobin, "the first person to excavate the Yin Ruins", wielded the first shovel in Xiaotun Village. Zhang Dongliang's great-grandfather Zhang Xuexian served as the head of the seven surrounding villages and was responsible for recruiting workers, logistics, and care.
In 1928, in Xiaotun Village, Anyang, Henan, a group photo was taken before and after the meeting before the first official excavation of the Yin Ruins. The third from the right is Dong Zuobin and the third from the left is Zhang Xuexian. (Photo courtesy of interviewee)
"At that time, my yard was the 'work station' of the archaeological team, where Dong Zuobin and others lived and ate." Zhang Dongliang's father, Zhang Siping, recalled, "The YH127 pit with the largest number of oracle bones unearthed in the Yin Ruins archaeological excavation was in my family's land."
Since then, the Yin Ruins have been excavated more than 10 times, with Zhang Xuexian participating in the entire process, and the family has developed a deep friendship with the archaeological team members.
In 1937, the excavation of the Yin Ruins was forced to stop; in the late 1940s, Dong Zuobin and others moved to Taiwan. In the 1970s and 1980s, Zhang Dongliang’s grandfather Zhang Shukai maintained correspondence with many Taiwanese scholars, continuing this special cross-strait fate.
"These precious archaeological stories of the Yin Ruins are the common memory of both sides of the Taiwan Strait." In order to continue this archaeological memory of the Yin Ruins, Zhang Siping embarked on a decades-long search since 1983, and tried every means to establish contact with Dong Min, Dong Zuobin's son.
“We were very excited when we mentioned the past and friendship between our ancestors in the archeology of Yin Ruins.” Zhang Siping recalled that in 2008, Dong Min visited Henan and brought him some copies of the early excavation materials of Yin Ruins.
After that, Zhang Siping formed deep friendships with many Taiwanese scholars who studied oracle bone inscriptions, including Wang Shuli and Li Xiuping.
In 2023, the "Yin Ruins Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed History Museum" renovated from the Zhangjia Xiaoyuan will be opened to the public. The plaque is inscribed by Wang Yuxin, a famous oracle bone researcher. Wang Shuli and other Taiwanese scholars came all the way from Baodao to visit. Li Xiuping, who was unable to attend, wrote a special letter to Zhang Siping, praising his original intention in building the museum: "It is valuable and a blessing for you to establish the 'Yin Ruins Oracle Bone Inscriptions Unearthed History Museum' in Xiaotun Village. I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit your museum in the future."
Now, the "baton" connecting the two sides of the Taiwan Strait has been handed over to Zhang Dongliang. He formed a study team and opened Yinxu study and charity classes for young people.
"Last month, I sent several books on the study of Yin Ruins culture to Teacher Li Xiuping, as well as photos of my daughter." Zhang Dongliang said that new changes in Yin Ruins and new stories about oracle bone inscriptions will be told to scholars in Baodao as soon as possible. (over)
