Scapulimancy (also spelled scapulomancy and scapulamancy, and also termed omoplatoscopy ) is the practice of divination by use of scapulae (shoulder blades). In the context of the oracle bones of ancient China, which chiefly utilized both scapulae and the plastrons of turtle, scapulimancy is sometimes used in a very broad sense to jointly refer to both scapulimancy and plastromancy (similar divination using plastrons). However, the term osteomancy might be more appropriate, referring to divination using bones. This man in Rhumsiki, Cameroon, tells the future by interpreting the changes in position of various objects as caused by a fresh-water crab through nggàm[1]. Divination is the practice of ascertaining information from supernatural sources. ... Left scapula - front view () Left scapula - rear view () In anatomy, the scapula, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus (arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a tortoise, what we would call the belly, similar in composition to the carapace; with an external layer of horny material divided into plates called scutes and an underlying layer of interlocking bones. ... Plastromancy is a form of divination using the plastron, or undershell of a turtle. ...

Historically, scapulimancy has taken two major forms. In the first, "apyromantic", the scapula of an animal was simply examined after its slaughter. This form was widespread in Europe, Northern Africa and the Near East. In Asia and North America however, the second form, "pyromantic" scapulimancy was practiced, involving the heating or burning of the bone and interpretation of the results. Pyromancy (from Greek pyros, fire, and manteia, divination) is the art of divination by means of fire. ...

See also

• Oracle Bones
• Plastromancy
• Pyromancy
• Slinneanachd

Categories: Stub ... Plastromancy is a form of divination using the plastron, or undershell of a turtle. ... Pyromancy (from Greek pyros, fire, and manteia, divination) is the art of divination by means of fire. ... Slinneanachd is a kind of divination formerly practiced in Scotland. ...

References

Keightley, David N. (1978). Sources of Shang History: The Oracle-Bone Inscriptions of Bronze Age China. University of California Press, Berkeley. Large format hardcover, ISBN 0-520-02969 (out of print); A ppbk 2nd edition (1985) ISBN 0520054555 is still in print.

Andrée, R. (1906) Scapulimantia. In Anthropological Papers in Honour of Franz Boas, edited by Berthold Laufer, pp.143-165

Eisenberger, Elmar Jakob (1938). Das Wahrsagen aus dem Shulterblatt. Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie 35, pp.49-116.