Chinese characters are the world's only independently developed writing system to remain in continuous use for thousands of years. In antiquity, early people in China created symbols that bore meaning. Evolving over millennia, these developed into a comprehensive ancient writing system, beginning with oracle bone inscriptions and later encompassing bronze inscriptions, bamboo and silk manuscripts, and inscriptions on seals. As vital keys to decoding ancient history and transmitting traditional culture, these scripts and their structural forms reveal the ideology and cognitive patterns of early societies. They chronicle ritual systems, social customs, technological advancements, and daily life, forming the roots of fine traditional Chinese culture and a crucial foundation for fostering cultural confidence.
 
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was convened in November 2012, the CPC Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, has placed great emphasis on fine traditional Chinese culture and has issued instructions on Chinese paleography. On November 1, 2019, Xi sent a congratulatory letter marking the 120th anniversary of the discovery and study of oracle bone inscriptions. In November 2020, a major national initiative—the Paleography and Chinese Civilization Inheritance and Development Program—was jointly launched by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, the State Language Commission, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the People's Government of Henan Province. Over the past five years, the program has driven remarkable progress across multiple fronts. It has strengthened institutional frameworks, research platforms, and professional teams, while also yielding significant achievements in academic research, international exchange, artificial intelligence integration, and public outreach.
 
This exhibition incorporates artifacts bearing ancient Chinese inscriptions with academic insights. It features a representative selection of materials, highlighting how this national initiative has driven recent advancements in the excavation, collecting, rejoining, and transcription of unearthed texts. Serving as an authoritative guide to this heritage, the exhibit transcriptions and accompanying notes fully reflect the latest advancements in contemporary scholarship.
 
 
Inside the Exhibition