The Master said: “I can speak on ancient Xia culture, but I lack hard evidence from their homeland; I can speak on ancient Shang culture, but I lack hard evidence from their homeland. They did not leave enough written records; if only I had more to work with!” Note: The oldest Chinese writing of any kind that still exists today is from the Shang dynasty – specifically, oracular carvings on bones, which last much longer than the more usual bamboo or silk. As such, it is very hard to say when Chinese writing actually began, as the evidence has all rotted away. Confucius seems to take it for granted that the Xia before the Shang did have writing, but he already had the same problem!