A Comparative Study On Graph-icon Relation Of Oracle Bone Script And Bronze Inscription

This thesis draws a conclusion that the conversion from oracle bone script to bronze inscription is not only the conversion of writing carrier and font but also shows a distinguishing characteristic that Chinese character changes from propriety era to text era. This conclusion is based on a research which is a comparison between the omen of oracle bone script and the emblazonment on bronze objects.The thesis is divided into three parts:The first part is a summary, which includes the aim of choosing this topic, the general situation of the research, the value of the research, the theoretical basis, and the research methods.The second part is a comparative research on graph-icon relation of oracle bone script and bronze inscription from the perspective of semiology. It is the main part of the thesis and is also divided into three parts.Firstly, it explores the changes of thoughts from Yin Shang dynasty to Xi Zhou period. Yin Shang dynasty pays much attention to the divination ceremony of the psychic, however, Xi Zhou period focuses more on the humanistic thoughts of the rules of propriety. Along with the decline of the divination's status, the rules of propriety begin to prosper, which promotes the development of bronze inscription. It is the theoretical basis of the change from oracle bone script to bronze inscription.Secondly, oracle bone script itself has the tint of tensely mediumistic ceremony field. Using the omen, the God presents. Writing has appeared, however, not independent, which belonged to the omen. Along with the social and historical development, the development of oracle bone script experiences three stages, namely the stage of having omen but not graph, the stage of complementarity of omen and graph, and the stage of separation of omen and graph. The three stages show the process of Chinese characters' appearance and development, namely the stage of no writing era, the stage of graph subordinate to icon, and the stage which writing is independent from the omen and becomes a self-sufficient system.Thirdly, the bronze inscription uses the combination of emblazonment and writing to show its meaning, which is different from oracle bone script. The emblazonment is the heritance of ancient religion, wizard and god, totem, as a graphic symbol on the bronze objects, it is connected with wizard and god. While the bronze inscription records the historical facts, being related to the human being. Thus there are two kinds of consciousness on the bronze objects, one is the consciousness of wizard and god, the other is the human consciousness. The ancient bronze objects are the co-presence and co-explanation of graphic symbol and writing symbol.The third part is the conclusion. Oracle bone script is used for describing the omen, while bronze inscription and the emblazonment is the co-presence of god and human being. In the long period of the Chinese character's development, the bronze inscription period is a vital turning point, which combines with the oracle bone script times and the bamboo writing times. This kind of development process also shows the process of Chinese character's development. The oracle bone script era is the era of ceremony, and writing symbols are used for describing the graphic symbols. The bronze inscription period is the era of the co-governance of god and human being, and the meaning of writing symbols gradually surpasses the meaning of graphic symbols. When bronze inscription runs to the bamboo writing times, the graphic symbols disappear, leaves behind the writing symbols. In this way, Chinese character finally liberates from the god's chain, human's creativity is displayed, the era of canon approaches, and Chinese character enters into the genuine textual era.