Chinese Stone Inscriptions Classics -- Xue Ji Xin Xing Chan Shi Stele

Author: Compiled by the Publishing House
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2001-12-01
Features: Xue Ji was also known as "Xue Shaobao" by the. Xue Ji, Ou Yangxun, Yu Shilang, and Chu Suiliang were collectively known as the Four Great Calligraphers of Early Tang. Xue's calligraphy has always been highly regarded for its majestic and imposing style—vast, powerful, profound, and awe-inspiring, which has made it a favorite among the virtuous. His works are characterized by harmony between form and substance, unity of grace and strength, and a profound sense of order, setting a standard for the "law" of calligraphy. Practicing calligraphy should be grounded and rooted in composure, and the regular script is the ideal script for cultivating this discipline. The "Xinxing Sifanbei" (Stele for the Abbot Xinxing) was written during the period when Xue Ji's style was fully mature. The characters are robust and vigorous, making it a masterpiece of regular script. Tang Dynasty regular script is marked by precise proportions, strict rules, balanced structures, refined brushwork, harmonious composition, and a balance between form and substance, setting a standard for the "law" of calligraphy.
Since the transition from clerical script to regular script, it underwent continuous evolution during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period before reaching maturity in the Tang Dynasty. The signs of maturity include:
1. Gradually abandoning the wave-like tips of clerical script and adopting the method of returning strokes to conclude lines in regular script.
2. The forms shifting from slightly flattened to square.
3. The characters becoming more orderly and elegant, with the "Yongzi Ba fa" (Eight Methods of the Character Yong) also becoming highly refined.
In particular, Tang Dynasty regular script is steady and dignified, perfectly aligning with the principles of calligraphy. It is not only suitable for refining one's character and serving in official documents but also convenient for inscribing seals, writing in vermilion, and crafting large characters. As a result, Xue's calligraphy has attracted endless scholars.
Of course, Xue's calligraphy is even more celebrated for its majestic and imposing style—vast, powerful, profound, and awe-inspiring, making it a favorite among the virtuous. Xue Ji was the nephew of Wei Zheng, the prime minister of Emperor Taizong. His family possessed numerous authentic works by Ou Yangxun and Chu Suiliang, so he devoted himself to copying them, particularly Chu Suiliang's regular script, achieving a mastery that was almost indistinguishable from the original. As a result, there was a saying among the time, "Buying Chu's works is like getting Xue's—without losing integrity." This brought him fame in calligraphy. Dong Qiao, in his "Guangchuan Shubu" (Extensive Notes on Calligraphy), remarked: "Xue Ji's calligraphy encompasses the inheritances of Ou, Yu, Chu, and Lu, making his mastery undeniable. However, in terms of bloodline, he is closest to Chu. As for brushwork, he is slender and refined, with structures that are open and spacious, setting him apart as a unique calligrapher."
The "Xinxing Sifanbei" (Stele for the Abbot Xinxing) is a representative work of Xue Ji, with over 1,800 characters written by Li Zhen of the Yue Kingdom. It was established in the second year of the Shenlong era (706) during Emperor Zhongzong's reign. The original stele has long been lost, with only a rubbing preserved by He Zizhen of Daozhou and owned by Jia Sidao, now incomplete. It is now held by Kyoto Daitoku University in Japan. In the third year of the Xuantong era, Shenzhou Guangguang Press published a photolithographic edition, and Zhengshu Publishing House also released a photolithographic version. The back of the album includes inscriptions by Wang Zuo, Wu Rongguang, and other renowned calligraphers.
The stele features delicate and slender brushwork, open and spacious structures, and bears a strong resemblance to Chu Suiliang's "Fanglianggongbei" (Stele for the Marquis Fang) and "Yantasiangjiao" (Stele for the Buddhist Teachings on the Yan Tower). However, it is even more refined and concise. While derived from Chu, it possesses a unique style, as noted by Wang Zuo in his inscription: "The 'Xinxing Sifanbei' exhibits harmonious and serene brushwork, shining with ancient simplicity and free of later influences." Zhang Huaiwan, in his "Shu duan" (Judgments on Calligraphy), also praised Xue Ji's calligraphy: "Xue Ji learned from Chu, particularly valuing elegance and refinement, capturing half of his teacher's essence. He can be considered a master from Henan Province and was highly prized in his time."
Xue Ji's younger brother, Xue Xing, was also skilled in regular script and equally renowned in calligraphy. The present edition is a photolithographic reproduction based on the rubbing by He Zizhen and owned by Jia Sidao, now made available to all lovers of calligraphy.