Although written records found at Anyang confirm the existence of the Shang dynasty, Western scholars are often hesitant to associate settlements that are contemporaneous with the Anyang settlement with the Shang dynasty.
Skriftlige registreringer fundet på Anyang bekræfter eksistensen af Shang-dynastiet, dog er vestlige akademikere ofte tilbageholdende med at knytte bosættelser med Shang-dynastiet.