Han Shi Chen's Front and Rear Steles (Xi Ling Seal Society's Collection of Model Calligraphy)

Author: Shao Xumin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: This stele features meticulous and orderly calligraphy. Although there are two versions (front and back), the style remains consistent, displaying an ancient, robust, and elegant character. The strokes are balanced, and the overall structure is well-organized, harmonious, and classical. This collection is an excellent model for calligraphy enthusiasts and beginners. The Shichen Stele is also known as The Front and Back Shichen Steles. The stele is inscribed on both sides. The front stele is titled Record of the Worship of Confucius by the Lu Prefect Shichen, erected in the second year of the Jianning era (A.D. 169) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. According to Wang Chang's Compendium of Inscriptions and Relics (Qing Dynasty), the stele is "7 chi tall and 3 chi 4 cun wide." It contains 17 lines, with 36 characters per line. The stele is now housed in the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong. The calligraphy of this stele is meticulous and orderly, with a consistent style throughout. It is ancient, robust, and elegant, featuring balanced strokes and a well-organized, harmonious structure. Fang Shuo's Annotations on Inscriptions, Calligraphy, and Paintings from the Zhenjing Hall (Qing Dynasty) once praised the stele: "The calligraphy is solemn, grand, and profound, with a balanced structure and a refined spirit. Truly, it is a masterpiece worthy of temple halls and the epitome of the classic Ba Fen style." This demonstrates that the Shichen Stele, hailed as the "Model for Generations," is an excellent model for calligraphy enthusiasts and beginners. The stele's craftsmanship is exquisite, with the light and heavy strokes vividly expressed. The published facsimile of this rubbing is largely complete, with the character "autumn" from the Spring and Autumn Annals fully intact.