Huangfu Jun Stele - Enlarged Selection

Author: Yu Feng (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The "Series of Enlarged Ancient Stele and Calligraphy Models" takes commonly used steles and calligraphy models for beginners as the basis, selects typical character examples, and organizes them by stroke, radical, structure, or variant forms of the same character. It is supplemented with techniques such as character enlargement and stele flipping, making it the preferred calligraphy practice book or teaching reference for. This volume is compiled based on the "Huangfu Jun Stele" written by Ouyang Xun of the Tang Dynasty. Ouyang Xun (557-641) was a great calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, styled Xinyen, and was from Linxiang, Tanzhou (now Changsha, Hunan). He held positions such as Taizisi Ligeng and Hongwen Academy Scholar, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Bohai. Initially, his calligraphy followed Wang Xizhi, but later he changed his style. His brushwork was strong and vigorous, with strict rules and a balanced yet daring aesthetic, earning him the title "Ouyang Style." He was known as one of the "Four Great Calligraphers of Early Tang" alongside Yu Shinan, Chu Suiliang, and Xue Ji. His representative works include the "Liquan Ming of Jiucheng Palace," the "Huangfu Jun Stele," and the "Huadusi Stele." The "Huangfu Jun Stele," also known as the "Huangfu Dan Stele," is the full title "Stele of Huangfu Fu Jun, Left Light Minister of the Sui Dynasty, Hongyi Ming Gong." It was written by Zhi Ning and is now preserved in the Stele Forest of Xi'an, Shaanxi. This stele embodies the bold and elegant style of Ouyang's calligraphy, with a combination of round and square strokes, predominantly square. The strokes are decisive, with clear beginnings and endings, and the structure is rigorous, with well-stretched left-falling and right-falling strokes, revealing a free spirit within its dignity. The Qing Dynasty scholar Weng Fanggang highly praised this stele, saying, "This is the essential starting point for learning Tang Dynasty regular script. If one does not begin with this, how can they enter the structures of the 'Jiucheng' and 'Huadusi' steles?" When practicing this stele, one must master the strict and exquisite characteristics of Ouyang's calligraphy. The characters should be slightly elongated but must avoid being simplistic, thin, or rigid. The structure should reflect the bold beauty of Ouyang's style, using oblique strokes for momentum but avoiding excessive tilting or unbalanced centers. The lines should be strong and elastic but must not be harsh, flat, or stiff.