Li Youxi, an oracle bone inscriptions knowledge disseminator Photo: Courtesy of Li Youxi
"Do you know what the internet we currently use is related to oracle bone inscriptions?" "There really are oracle bone inscription love letters!" "Even 3,000 years ago, weather forecasts existed in oracle bone inscriptions?"
On Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, a young influencer has made an effort to bring ancient Chinese characters into the limelight. Through lively and interesting educational videos, she combines oracle bone inscriptions with stories from the Shang Dynasty (c.1600BC-1046BC). In less than a year, she has gained over 650,000 followers.
Oracle bone inscriptions, or known as Jiaguwen in Chinese, are an ancient Chinese language named for their inscriptions on tortoise shells and animal bones during the Shang Dynasty. Traditionally associated with divination and record-keeping, they are a primitive form of Chinese characters and the oldest fully developed characters in China.
"Chinese characters are a daily part of our lives, and oracle bone inscriptions reveal the origins and answers behind these characters," Li Youxi, the oracle bone inscriptions knowledge disseminator, told the Global Times.
Despite the field of oracle bone inscription studies often being referred to as a "niche" discipline in China, Li embarked on a journey to promote this ancient discipline in 2023.
"The public's understanding of oracle bone inscriptions is vague, and there are some biases, thinking that it is something mysterious and not very useful for ordinary people. It's necessary to gradually break this perception," said Li.
"Oracle bones are like a museum of words. People don't go to a museum in their daily lives; they go to see interesting artifacts or touch upon ancient history, and old stories, and to experience the cultures and glories of the past, understanding why we are what we are today," Li told the Global Times.
In Li's view, ancient characters provide a throughline to the evolution of modern Chinese characters, offering answers and connecting us to our own history.
An oracle bone with inscriptions of ancient Chinese characters Photo: Courtesy of Li Youxi
Fueled by pure passionBorn in 1996 in Tonglu, East China's Zhejiang Province, Li's initial fascination with literature in high school led her to pursue Chinese language and literature at the Zhejiang Normal University. The allure of the extensive history behind Chinese characters propelled her toward a master's degree in oracle bone inscription studies, a decision that would later shape her unconventional career path.
Li found herself as the only student in her graduate program studying oracle bones. Due to the scarcity of students, classes were held in her mentor's house.
After completing her master's degree in 2021, Li faced the stark reality that her expertise in oracle bone studies didn't offer a competitive edge in the job market. After exploring various career paths, she decided to leverage her skills through self-produced short video content.
Initially, Li envisioned creating a cultural account. However, On February 27, 2023, Li released a video titled "Challenging the Most Niche Profession on the Internet" which gained unexpected popularity and inspired her to delve into the fascinating anecdotes and quirks of studying oracle bone inscriptions.
On Douyin, she combines historical facts and cultural insights with her professional knowledge to create engaging content. For example, during the Asian Games in 2023, she connected the forms of oracle bone characters with the postures of athletes to explain the evolution of characters associated with actions like walking and shooting.
"I believe that people come to Douyin for knowledge because they want to enjoy it. Otherwise, they would go to school directly. So, I've been continuously trying to make oracle bone inscriptions more interesting, digging into more stories and characters behind them, and attempting to find that resonant point," Li shared with reporters.
"Oracle bone inscriptions are inherently interesting, and if people can understand their charm in a relaxed manner, resonate with them, and gain something from the knowledge, then that's the best possible outcome," she noted.
Despite her success, creating educational videos is no easy feat. Each video requires extensive research through reading books, articles, and materials, followed by scriptwriting and editing.
Many viewers who stumble on her page have no initial knowledge of oracle bones, but through Li's efforts, they now understand the historical significance of each Chinese character, realizing that behind every symbol lies a history spanning at least 3,000 years.
"Perhaps many people haven't memorized this specific knowledge [after watching the videos], but subtly, their emotions and attitudes toward Chinese characters have undoubtedly changed. Leaving behind a love for Chinese characters and Chinese culture in their hearts is sufficient," Li said.
Unlocking ancient wisdom
Oracle bone inscriptions, as the earliest mature writing system discovered in China, represent the roots of Chinese characters and the essence of traditional Chinese culture. Currently, there are more than 4,000 individual characters identified in oracle bone inscriptions, but less than 2,000 of them have been deciphered.
The National Museum of Chinese Writing announced on Thursday a reward of up to 100,000 yuan ($14,000) to those who can decipher a single oracle bone inscription.
According to Li, with government support, through initiatives such as "the Ancient Chinese Character Foundation Plan," the number of individuals studying and researching oracle bone inscriptions has increased. However, Li notes that oracle bone inscription research requires patience and years of dedication to be able to yield significant results.
"For college students aspiring to enter this field, I would like to say, please think carefully about what you want, and consider the consequences you may face. If you still love it, delve into it. Believe in the power of passion," Li remarked.
In addition to her short Douyin videos, Li has experimented with livestreaming and teaching elementary school students with an aim to popularize the characters.
Looking ahead, she envisions potential collaborations between oracle bone inscription studies and institutions like museums and other culturally significant players. Li is also considering writing a book that delves deeper into oracle bones.
"What cannot be elaborated in the videos will be written in the book," she noted.
