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Photo, Print, Drawing Si fang feng 四方風

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About this Item

Title

  • Si fang feng

Other Title

  • 四方風

Translated Title

  • Winds of the Four Directions

Summary

  • This oracle bone from around 1200 B.C. contains 24 characters in four groups in a vigorous and strong style, typical of the Bin group of diviners in the reign of Wu Ding (circa 1200-1189 B.C.). It records the gods of the four directions and of the four winds. The winds of the four directions reflect the spring and autumn equinoxes, the summer and winter solstices, and the changes of the four seasons. The four winds are the east wind, called Xie; the south wind, called Wei; the west wind, called Yi (second tone in Mandarin); and the north wind, called Yi (first tone in Mandarin). They constitute the independent standard seasonal system devised by the Yin people, and were an important basis for the calendar and the determination of intercalary months. This item is from a collection of 35,651 specimens of plastrons and bones in the National Library of China, constituting one-fourth of all oracle bones discovered to date, and considered to be the finest collection in China.

Created / Published

  • [Place of publication not identified] : [Publisher not identified], [1200 B.C. to 1180 B.C.]

Headings

  • -  China--Henan Province--Anyang
  • -  1200 B.C. to 1180 B.C
  • -  Gods, Chinese
  • -  Inscriptions, Chinese
  • -  Oracle bones
  • -  Seasons

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 piece; 26 x 16 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library of China.
  • -  Content in Chinese.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
  • -  Title revised per Asian Division.--cc28 2023-01-06

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Rubbings of Inscriptions on Metal and Stone

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021668757

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Si Fang Feng. Henan Province Anyang China, 1200. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, B.C. to 1180 B.C] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668757/.

APA citation style:

(1200) Si Fang Feng. Henan Province Anyang China, 1200. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, B.C. to 1180 B.C] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668757/.

MLA citation style:

Si Fang Feng. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, B.C. to 1180 B.C] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021668757/>.