Chapter 425: Bo Yikao’s Ritual Sacrifice! King Zhou’s Divination! (1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Here’s a translated sentence!”
“I’ve stumbled upon a discovery!”
“I’ve located a new character, though its meaning eludes me!” “Before we continue, I need a breather and a cigarette!”
To an impatient observer, these cryptic symbols could easily induce frustration.
Indeed, some characters remained enigmatic despite the closest scrutiny.
Luo Feng, however, merely chuckled, gathering the turtle shells and launching his investigation.
Strangely, these oracle bone inscriptions seamlessly translated into modern text in his mind.
“The meaning, as per my understanding, is that Ke Zhen divined, asking the heavens if victory could be ensured in the forthcoming battle! King Zhou analyzed the fissures in the burnt turtle shell, concluding that a man named Jie was excessively brutal, leading to public suffering and the downfall of Bathhouse Tang! Now, Shang is unprincipled and due for heavenly punishment. The impending collapse of the Shang dynasty confirms this divination ! ”
A single sentence conveyed an enormity of information.
Essentially, from this moment, the historically unacknowledged Xia dynasty was surfacing!O
“Master Li!”
This revelation prompted Luo Feng to exclaim with excitement.
After all, his prolonged presence here was not out of fascination for these bronzes; he sought to comprehend their purpose.
A grand ceremony of this caliber was noteworthy even in the Shang and Zhou dynastical contexts, and he hoped it might connect to significant historical events.
“What’s on your mind, Little Luo?”
Intrigued, Master Li approached, inquiring.
“Come and take a look at this character,” Luo Feng directed, pointing at a symbol.
“I can’t ascertain this character’s meaning, it remains uninterpreted,” Master Li assumed Luo Feng was seeking an explanation.
“No, I’m suggesting this character could symbolize Xia,” Luo Feng clarified.
“Xia?” Teacher Li studied the character, shaking his head as he spoke, “Little Luo, the interpretation of oracle bone script can’t be based on mere speculation. It needs comparison with existing resources and subsequent theorization.”
Luo Feng retorted, “I’m not guessing arbitrarily. I’ve conducted extensive research on oracle bone script and recognize most of the deciphered characters. My deduction is that this character represents Xia.”
“See, this character signifies sunflower, this one translates to ‘already,’ and here we have the symbol for divination!”
“When combined, the overall interpretation is that Jie’s tyranny has burdened the people excessively, causing Tang of Shang to overthrow Xia. Now, Shang has lost its righteousness and is due for divine punishment. If this prediction holds true, it indicates the fall of the Shang dynasty!”
Professor Li considered Luo Feng, who exuded confidence in his translation. He was taken aback. Could this young man truly decipher the ancient script?
“Proceed cautiously. Decoding oracle bone script isn’t instantaneous,” Master Li conveyed his doubts regarding Luo Feng’s interpretation.
Translation, after all, requires utmost precision.
“I understand, I’ll continue my research,” Luo Feng conceded, simply providing an alternate viewpoint.
Though he was the sole believer in his interpretation.
Writing a research paper to validate a single character was out of his league, let alone time-consuming.
A simpler alternative, however, was to photograph the oracle bone script on his phone and scrutinize them individually outside the tent.
An inscription from the Shang dynasty oracle bone suggested a planned confrontation with the Qiang and Dongyi tribes the following day. Pre-war divinations consistently proved auspicious.
It also narrated their triumphant return from battle, using captives for sacrificial rites.
“Luo Feng, are you proficient in reading the oracle bone script?” Su Meiji questioned, her curiosity piqued. Her knowledge was limited to basic symbols like those for birds, beasts, the sun, and the moon. The deeper aspects of oracle bone script were beyond her grasp.
“To some extent,” Luo Feng acknowledged.
“Don’t just sit there immersed in your own world, share your translations with us!” Qin Rubing interjected.
“These are Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions, presumably from Emperor Xin’s reign. They detail military campaigns against foreign tribes.”
Subsequently, Luo Feng casually interpreted the inscriptions for the girls while enjoying a cigarette.
The girls were swiftly enchanted by Luo Feng, marveling at his profound knowledge.
What background does he hail from?
Was there anything beyond his understanding?
“This segment narrates a victorious return, sacrificing one hundred men and thirty animals. Quite a substantial sacrifice for that era!”
“This part mentions the day of Yi Yi Owhen Emperor Xin performed a ritual for his deceased father. In a few days, however, it was Tang’s sacrificial day, so they remained at this location for three consecutive days!” Luo Feng was mildly astonished once he finished.
After all, this was a location Emperor Xin had visited.
“Master Li, we’ve unearthed a bronze artifact over here!”
A student’s voice interrupted the quiet.
“It’s a ‘Pig Zun’!” Master Li identified.
“Are we certain? Could we have made an error?” “How could we? It’s considerably large, and is impossible to miss!”
Everyone gathered promptly to witness.
But, what exactly was a Pig Zun?
It was a wine vessel from the late Shang Dynasty, referred to as a Pig Zun.
Discovered in 1981 at a location named “Golden Basin Raises Carp” in Guihua Village, Jiu Hua Township, XX County, its uniqueness among ancient bronzes stems from its pig-shaped design.
The Pig Zun is intricately designed to mimic a wild boar, complete with wide-open round eyes, sail-like ears, a long upward-curving snout, sharp canine teeth, a bristling dorsal hair, sturdy legs, and a rotund rump and belly.
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