Chinese Language Chapter 27:2

China developed in isolation from the rest of the world. Because they viewed their country as the center of the world, they called their homeland Zhōng Guó, or “Middle Kingdom.”

The Shāng Dynasty, which ruled China circa B.C., is the first dynasty that can be dated from written records.

The earliest examples of Chinese writing are found etched onto animal bones and tortoise shells. [Image source:

[Image source: These oracle bones helped Shāng kings predict the future.

Originally the Chinese written language used only pictographs or characters that depicted the objects they represented. [Image source:

During the Shāng, some characters became ideograms representing ideas and concepts.

zhànchē [Image source:

Shāng chariot The Shāng employed the yoke to harness the power of animals in times of both peace and war.

Mastering the complex system of characters took time, so only a few people in ancient China were literate. [Image source:

Date Name of diviner and location of divination Positive ChargeNegative Charge Conclusion