In a sunlit classroom in Anyang, Henan province, the scritch-scratch of scissors on red paper brings ancient words to life. Here, students aren't just learning to read jiaguwen, or oracle bone inscriptions, the earliest-known formal writing system in China. They are tracing the character for "mountain" onto paper cutouts, their hands giving tangible form to symbols from 3,000 years ago.

In Anyang, the birthplace of jiaguwen found at the Yinxu Ruins, a late capital site of the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century–11th century BC), the ancient symbols are bursting with new vitality in local campuses.

In recent years, the city has stepped up efforts to promote jiaguwen in schools, with the aim of enabling students to gain an understanding of traditional culture from an early age.

"When students elsewhere get to know the Shang Dynasty in textbooks, our students have already entered the Yinxu Ruins to touch the inscribed oracle bones with their own hands," said Song Yongliang, deputy headmaster of Anyang Beimenxi Primary School.

"This direct engagement transforms history from abstract chronological figures into tangible cultural memories. Our jiaguwen-related education not only enables students to understand some ancient characters, but also helps them build a personal framework for connecting with the cultural heritage.

"When they know the very ground beneath their feet was once a capital of the Shang Dynasty, where China's earliest-known form of writing they are using originated, a unique sense of cultural confidence takes root in their hearts," he said. "Such recognition goes far beyond a simple pride in heritage or a feeling of 'we possess ancient treasures'. But by understanding the creation and structure of characters, they can know how their ancestors observed the world and expressed ideas, so as to understand the continuity of Chinese civilization."

Anyang has established a number of schools prominently featuring jiaguwen, integrating it comprehensively and creatively into every aspect of campus life, forming a replicable characteristic model.

In kindergartens, students play games with jiaguwen elements; in primary schools, they learn to recognize and memorize the characters; and in middle schools, they learn writing and grasping the cultural connotations behind them.

Hu Junjie, a Chinese language teacher at Anyang Jiaguwen Primary School, said learning jiaguwen helps students better understand the formation of Chinese characters so that they can memorize them more easily.

"I've found that explaining the evolution of Chinese characters with vivid stories makes all the difference. Students not only internalize the logic behind character formation, which leads to fewer writing mistakes, but also develop a lasting appreciation for traditional culture," said Hu.

Song said learning jiaguwen is especially helpful in the new era. "In nature, jiaguwen is an ancient information code system, comparable in some ways to the binary code used in modern computing. Understanding how these characters were formed means learning how early humans processed and transmitted information. In an era marked by the rapid development of artificial intelligence, cultivating the ability to interpret such a symbolic system is especially valuable," he said.

Yet beyond its value as an ancient code system, the true power of jiaguwen education in Anyang lies in how it is taught, not only as a relic to be memorized but also as a spark to be ignited.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. Jiaguwen-related education should not be a burden, but rather a cultural spark that ignites students' curiosity to explore. When this spark is kindled in the hearts of the children, it will not only illuminate their understanding of the past but also light their way toward the future," Song said.

Contact the writers at wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn