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- Introduction to the Menzies Family Collection
Whenever Shang �oracle bone� inscriptions jiaguwen are discussed, one name consistently comes up and that is of the Rev. Dr. James M. Menzies (1885-1957). In fact, Rev. Menzies is one of the few Western scholars and, in most cases, the only Westen scholar, who is appreciated enough by Chinese archaeologists to be mentioned in books and articles dealing with the early Shang inscriptions. He was a pioneer in the field and was one of the first to realize the significance of these early inscriptions. In 1914, because of the large number of oracle bones found by farmers at the bend of the Huan river, he was directed to the site and consequently was the first modern scholar to identify it as the site of the last captital of the Shang kingdom. Not only were the inscriptions on the oracle bones the basis of the Chinese written language but they have also provided us with an early history of China.
Rev. Menzies first began collecting oracle bones at Zhangde (Anyang, Henan) in 1914 and again when he was stationed there in 1921-8 and 1931-7. As is mentioned in his biography, several thousand of these inscribed bones were transferred to the Royal Ontario Museum collection in Toronto in 1960. A few of the inscribed bones and fragments, which he collected, were retained by his family and are in this exhibition. His oracle bone collection, which is the largest and finest outside China, has provided major information to the study of the early historical records of China. Without this collection, many historical aspects would not have been known about this period. It is impossible to exaggerate the tremendous contribution he has made to the study of oracle bones. Noted scholar, Li Chi, in his book Anyang, Seattle, 1977, page 20, says of him, �this fortunate combination of an appropriate appointment (at Anyang) and an inborn instinct for archaeology, prepared the way for his special contribution to the oracle bones studies...�
Although he is best known as a scholar and collector of oracle bones, Rev. Menzies also enthusiastically collected a large variety of other artifacts from the Shang dynasty (16th-11 th centuries B.C.) through later dynasties up to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). This collection of Chinese art, which is of an immense scope with excellent examples from a variety of mediums, is of a type and quality to interest the general public and in some cases of a rarity to attract the attention of serious scholars. The collection as a whole is an important group and will help in providing some insights to the early culture of China as well as displaying some regional variations in decoration. Fragmentary and uneven in quality, the collection varies from some spectacular and rare pieces to other small and less refined objects for utilitarian purposes. Many of the objects are cracked or chipped but still offer wonderful material for the study of ancient Chinese archaeology. The small and damaged pieces reflect a collector-scholar with a keen eye but with the realistic view that with a limited salary he would have to be content with some pieces which were less than perfect. However, the collection is quite remarkable when one considers that it was amassed through the efforts of one man in an age when little was known about Chinese archaeology. Rev. Menzies� hobby of collecting was contagious as not only did he inspire his wife, Annie, to collect some Song period ceramics, but also his children became interested in the joy of collecting antiques. His eldest daughter, Marion, collected fragments of oracle bones and assembled a
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