Born in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, Sun Jing placed first in the national examinations and earned graduate degrees, becoming a government official. After the Revolution of 1911–12, he left government, returning home to establish a modern educational system and collect books. From his research, Sun became known for his "oracle bone" (jiaguwen, 甲骨文) calligraphy. More sophisticated than pictographs of objects, oracle bone script (ca. 1400–1100 B.C.E.) was the first complete Chinese written language. Characters carved on the undersides of tortoises and the shoulder blades of oxen were used by kings of the Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1046 B.C.E.) to communicate with their ancestors when they needed advice. Prognosticators inscribed names, dates, and requests, then heated them to cause cracks, which would point to the correct course of action. These fractured surfaces remain valuable historical texts. In his calligraphy, Sun uses straightforward brushwork modestly applied, creating a pleasing antiquarian effect. To the right, a character, meaning "wine" and now written 酒, depicts a ceramic jug with two drops; while on the left the same "jug" shape, now written 尊, depicts it held up by two arms, connoting its use in rituals.