The　initiation　and　propagation　of　hydraulic　fractures　are　closely　related　to　the　fracture　ability　of　rocks.　Such　processes　in　shale　reservoirs　are,　to　a　certain　extent,　controlled　by　bedding.　However,　the　control　mechanism　of　bedding　on　the　anisotropy　of　fracture　toughness　and　fracturing　behavior　remains　unclear.　In　this　study,　a　series　of　numerical　notched　semi-circular　bend　(NSCB)　tests　are　conducted　using　the　discrete　element　method　(DEM)　to　investigate　the　influence　of　bedding　properties　on　the　anisotropy　of　fracture　toughness　and　fracture　patterns.　Based　on　the　DEM　framework,　a　novel　simulation　method　is　proposed　to　accurately　identify　two　key　fracture　indicators,　the　fracture　process　zone　(FPZ)　and　crack　tip　opening　displacement　(CTOD),　to　reveal　the　fracture　driving　mechanism.　The　results　show　that　the　fracture　toughness　of　shale　is　negatively　correlated　with　bedding　angles　beta　but　positively　correlated　with　bedding　spacing　and　bedding　strength.　Both　the　bedding　strength　and　spacing　significantly　influence　the　fracture　pattern　of　the　specimens　with　beta　=　0　degrees-60　degrees,　whereas　the　specimen　with　beta　=　90　degrees　is　scarcely　affected　by　the　bedding　planes.　The　evolution　of　the　CTOD　and　FPZ　in　shale　exhibits　distinct　phased　characteristics.　Due　to　the　strong　suppression　effect　of　low-angle　bedding　planes　on　pre-peak　crack　deflection,　the　CTOD　and　FPZ　exhibit　opposite　trends　with　respect　to　bedding　angles　before　and　after　the　peak　load.　This　study　facilitates　the　understanding　of　the　fracture　propagation　process　of　anisotropic　shale　and　could　provide　guidance　for　hydraulic　fracturing　design　in　shale　reservoirs.