Han Zhang Qian Stele and Its Calligraphy Style

Author: Bai Di
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-27
Features: The clerical script of the Eastern Han Dynasty, where the characters have largely broken free from the constraints of Qin and some Western Han clerical scripts that retained cursive elements. The shapes gradually shifted from long to square, and the structures became increasingly simplified. Many inscriptions have reached a state of absolute craftsmanship, balanced and symmetrical, sharing a similar aesthetic interest with the meticulous regular script of the Tang Dynasty. Among the numerous clerical script steles spanning hundreds of years in the Han Dynasty, the style of the Zhang Qian Stele occupies an intermediate position in the evolution. Its characters do not conform to regular patterns, sometimes square, sometimes long, varying in size, with a calligraphy style that is square yet round, strong yet restrained. In my opinion, it can be ranked alongside the Shimen Song as one of the most distinctive and artistically captivating clerical script steles of the Han Dynasty.
The full title of the Zhang Qian Stele is Eulogy for Zhang Jun, the Former Gucheng Chang and Tangyin County Magistrate of the Han Dynasty, carved in the third year of the Zhongping era (186 AD) in February. The stele was originally located in Dongping, Shandong, and is now preserved in the Tai Temple in Tai'an, Shandong. It stands 270 cm tall and 115 cm wide. Both the front and back of the stele are inscribed with text. The front has fifteen lines, each with forty-two characters, while the back has three columns: the top two columns each have nineteen lines, and the bottom column has three lines. The stele's title, Eulogy for Zhang Jun, the Former Gucheng Chang and Tangyin County Magistrate of the Han Dynasty, consists of twelve characters that resemble both seal script and clerical script. Its style differs from the main text but seems to share some connection. Such titles are rarely seen in Han Dynasty steles. The arrangement is quite unique—close together at the top and bottom, even overlapping, yet with clear line spacing. The calligraphy combines the rounded turns of seal script with the sharp angles of clerical script, exuding a dynamic and elegant charm. The structure is wide and square, unconstrained yet naturally formed. The line quality is strong yet restrained, with a tough yet graceful texture. The lines are curved, full of movement yet not abrupt. This style is rarely found even in Qin Dynasty clerical script that retained cursive elements. While Qin clerical script often preserved the ancient essence of seal script, it was more regular and lacked such ingenuity and vitality.
Many learners of the Zhang Qian Stele overlook the aesthetic value of its title script, even dismissing it as unsuitable for study, which is truly a pity.