Nan

Nan (, also written as Que ) was a Shang dynasty diviner who served Wu Ding in the Late Shang period. They are known for their ritual activity in and outside of Yin and performing among the highest amounts of oracle bone divinations of any diviner, which has made them an ample source of linguistic data, as well as a useful marker for dating oracle bone inscriptions.

Name Que 㱿 is a common and conventional representation of Nan's name, but palaeographic evidence shows that the actual representation is Nan 𬆩 ⿰南殳, a phono-semantic compound using 南 as the phonetic component. Similar evidence is used for the reading of Fu Hao's 好 name as Fu Zi, using 子 as the source for reading.

Given Nan's occasional erring in terms of handwriting in oracle bone script, as well as consistent differences in word order in their recorded words, theories have emerged that they may not have been a Yin native. However, due to a lack of bronzeware declaring their name, their homeland remains a mystery. As Nan's name uses nan 南 "south," should this theory be correct, it suggests that they may have been from the southern areas of Shang and thus spoke a southern dialect.

Career The divinations Nan took part in were sometimes major. One details a charge about whether to use the Xingfang sending Qiang as sacrifices for Shang Jia among the Six Spirits: 壬寅卜𬆩貞興方以羌用自上甲至下乙 On the renyin day, plastromancy was performed. Diviner Nan charges: If the Xingfang bring Qiang people for use, should we use them in sacrifices from Shang Jia down to Xia Yi?

Among the most famous oracle bone inscriptions involves Nan divinating about potential disasters with Wu Ding after receiving a report, which came to pass when the Gongfang invaded Shang borders.

Nan would also consult ancestors regarding childbirth, on one occasion doing so four times for Wu Ding to ensure a birth happened on a geng 庚 day, which would be associated with good fortune. On another occasion, Wu Ding would predict a ding 丁 day for the birth one of Fu Zi's children, only for the birth to occur on a jiayin 甲寅 day, and be a girl, and thus not a suitable heir.

Additionally, there would be many occasions where Nan divinates regarding omens for the ruler, as well as whether rain will occur.