The book provides forty divination articles written on oracle bones in the Shang and Zhou dynasties in Ancient China, including war, sacrifice, agriculture, fishing and hunting, architecture, handicraft, ghosts and gods, norms of etiquette, birth, illness, etc. It not only reflects the chronological development of the forms of ancient Chinese characters, provides indirect evidence for the study of ancient Chinese characters, especially of oracle bone inscriptions, but offers references to Chinese calligraphy. “Explanation” seeks the verification of the original meaning of Chinese characters, which can provide direct evidence for the origin of semantic meaning of the ancient characters; Each “Translation” is accurate and clear, which accords with the aim of the divination culture in ancient China and contributes to people’s understanding and mastery of the culture and language of divination in ancient China. “Its value and Significance” helps the reader to understand the political and military affairs, economy and agriculture, culture and norms of etiquette, astronomy and geography, and ethical communications in ancient China.

Long Guo-fu, a professor from Renmin University of China, has been dedicated in teaching and studying Chinese ancient classics for decades.