Sanxi Tang Collection of Calligraphy (Complete 4 Volumes)

Author: None
Publisher: China Workers Publishing House
Publishing Time: None
Features: The Three Palaces Collection is the largest collection of calligraphy albums in ancient China. In ancient times, due to the backward printing technology and the fragility of handwritten calligraphy on paper, excellent calligraphy works were hard to circulate widely. In the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizong ordered ministers to carve into stone the Chunhua Pavilion Collection, marking the beginning of large-scale calligraphy albums. Subsequently, many albums from imperial and private collections were published, greatly promoting the popularity of calligraphy. However, in terms of scale, The Three Palaces Collection is the largest, collecting the essence of all previous albums. The album includes works of 135 renowned calligraphers from the Wei, Jin, to the late Ming Dynasty, divided into regular script, running script, and cursive script. The works are arranged chronologically, almost encompassing all the finest calligraphy pieces from that the Qing court could collect. These calligraphers have always been role models for learners across generations, such as Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi (father and son), Ou Yangxun, Chu Suiliang, Yan Zhenqing, Sun Guoting, Huaisu, Liu Gongquan, Su Shi, Huang Guaosheng, Mi Fu, Emperor Huizong of Song, Emperor Gaozong of Song, and Zhao Mengfu. As a royal carving, Emperor Qianlong specially decreed that it be selected with extreme precision. After its completion, it was widely circulated and became a coveted object for calligraphy enthusiasts. The Three Palaces Collection was commissioned by Emperor Qianlong in the early years of the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Qianlong was a enthusiast who, amidst his daily governance, dedicated himself to practicing calligraphy and studying various styles, resulting in works that were elegant and refined, among the best among emperors in history. Qianlong also collected the works of predecessors. After the Ming Dynasty fell, many ancient imperial collections were scattered among the people. Following the Qing Dynasty's rule of Kangxi, the imperial court repeatedly issued decrees to retrieve these treasures, and by Qianlong's time, the effort was even greater, bringing many masterpieces of past calligraphers to the imperial collection. Among the most precious are the works of Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy, including the Kuaixue Shiqing Tie (a piece dating back nearly 1,500 years from the Jin to the mid-Qing period), Wang Xianzhi's Mid-Autumn Album, and Wang Xun's Boyuan Tie. The Wang family's calligraphy was Emperor Qianlong's favorite, and he devoted much effort to studying and imitating it. Thus, these rare treasures were kept in the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City, where Qianlong cherished them deeply. In the 12th year of his reign, the Grand Secretary Liang Shizheng and others were commissioned to select, trace, carve, and engrave the calligraphy pieces collected by the imperial family's book collectors. Qianlong personally named the album The Three Palaces Collection, and his special decree was inscribed at the beginning of the album.