Oracle bone script, also known as “jia-gu-wen”, is an ancient form of writing that dates back to the Shang Dynasty about 3,600 years ago, and was often carved on tortoise shells or animal bones.

The Chinese tech giant said its artificial intelligence (AI) platform, which uses an online database dedicated to studying ancient inscriptions, can help researchers translate texts “significantly” faster and more accurately through a comparison process with thousands of indexed images.

Tencent's latest initiative is the company's attempt to apply cutting-edge technology beyond online entertainment, such as culture and science.

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AI technology is being used to speed up the deciphering of ancient Chinese texts. Photo: SCMP

The company’s AI platform includes various digitized versions of the oracle bones, including photos, 3D models, ink strokes, and digitally enhanced copies. This allows researchers to shorten the time it takes to translate characters, even with shallow carvings, using a “dentation highlighting” feature.

The contents engraved on the oracle bones can shed light on early Chinese civilization, as well as the development of language in one of the cradles of world culture.

To date, about 4,500 unique characters have been discovered from 16,000 oracle bone fragments excavated in China and other locations around the world. However, only 1,500 of these characters have been successfully mapped to modern Chinese characters.

Prior to launching the AI ​​platform, Tencent also partnered with China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism in February to apply AI and virtual reality to restore decades-old traditional Chinese opera videos.

Microsoft last year partnered with Chinese university researchers on Project Diviner, which uses AI to curate and restore oracle bone inscriptions.

Animal bones or turtle shells with characters engraved on them are considered the origin of modern Chinese writing. With thousands of years of age, these characters play a huge role in preserving the long history and culture of the people here. Until now, many of the writings have not been deciphered.

(According to SCMP)

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