An Anthology of Ancient Rare Books and Inscriptions -- Han Wang She Ren Stele

Author: Xiao Cang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: Han Wang She Stele, Seal Script, when unearthed, the lower part of the stele top was damaged, only the six characters "Han She Ren Wang Jun" were clearly legible in the recessed small seal script. The upper part of the stele is also missing, now measuring 110 cm in height, 78 cm in width, and 21 cm in thickness. The lower part of the stele is eroded and worn, with many characters no longer identifiable. Only over 80 characters remain clearly intact. The stele has 12 lines, with 18-19 characters per line. The stele style features a dragon head and a turtle base, which is unique among extant Han Dynasty steles. This stele was carved in April of the Guanghe 6th year (183 AD) of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was unearthed in 1982 from a Han tomb area on the western slope of Hou Village in Huibo Township, Pingdu County, Shandong Province, and is now housed in the Pingdu Museum. The calligraphy and structure of the stele are broad and well-executed, representing the mature clerical script of the Eastern Han Dynasty.