<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Southern Min </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Tâi - lô </Th> <Td> Kah - kut (col .) Kap - kut (lit .) </Td> </Tr> <P> Oracle bones (Chinese: 甲骨; pinyin: jiǎgǔ) are pieces of ox scapula or turtle plastron, which were used for pyromancy--a form of divination--in ancient China, mainly during the late Shang dynasty . Scapulimancy is the correct term if ox scapulae were used for the divination; plastromancy if turtle plastrons were used . </P> <P> Diviners would submit questions to deities regarding future weather, crop planting, the fortunes of members of the royal family, military endeavors, and other similar topics . These questions were carved onto the bone or shell in oracle bone script using a sharp tool . Intense heat was then applied with a metal rod until the bone or shell cracked due to thermal expansion . The diviner would then interpret the pattern of cracks and write the prognostication upon the piece as well . By the Zhou dynasty, cinnabar ink and brush had become the preferred writing method, resulting in fewer carved inscriptions and often blank oracle bones being unearthed . </P>

What was the purpose of oracle bones in ancient china