An Interpretation of the Ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches

The nation of Shang recorded the ten months process of conceiving of their ancestors with the special symbols which were called the Ten Heavenly Stems.Thereafter the people in Shang recorded the social styles,local manners and practices,production and living condition from Ziqi to Wanghai with some carved symbols which were the Twelve Earthly Branches.The Ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches is the carrier of the history of the whole nation of Shang,and the symbols are not only the prehistory of the tribe of Shang,but also the etymon of Chinese character which has made firm foundation for the development of Chinese characters.