In this paper, we analyze 58 oracle bone inscriptions in the 45 pieces of oracle bone with Zhanci(占辭, fortune-telling) in 『Yinxu Huayuanzhuang Dongdi Jiagu』(『殷墟花園莊東地甲骨』, in short 『Huadong』). In particular, we examine contents recorded in Zhanci, and present the characteristics that appear, compared to ‘Royal oracle bone inscripions’(王卜辭). The contents in this work are three-fold.
First, we classify the contents in which Zhanci was recorded into six categories: ‘Hunting’, ‘Ancestral rites’, ‘Reign’, ‘Anxiety’, ‘Weather’ and ‘King’s Activity’. Using specific examples, we point out that ‘Zi’(子) predicts contents in a direct and explicit manner.
Second, we suggest that the Zhanci of 『Huadong』 is particularly focused on the contents related to hunting. This is different characteristics from ‘Binzu’(賓組, Bin group). Furthermore, we argue that ‘Zi’ has a special interest in hunting, given that Zhanci is frequently recorded in the third period(3期) and the fifth period(5期) ‘Huangzu’(黃組, Huang group).
Third, we show that the Zhanci of ‘Binzu’ is focused on the determinination of good luck or bad luck, whereas the Zhanci of 『Huadong』 is related to how the Mingci(命辭) can be realized. In addition, by the analysis of the prediction methods of conditional and negative predictions, we point out that ‘Zi’ predicts what it can infer from the Mingci specifically and clearly.