Complete Collection of Chinese Calligraphy, Volume 86

Author: Liu Zhengcheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-08-01
Features: The calligraphy works collected in this book span from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the contemporary era, totaling over one hundred volumes. The organization is divided into two major categories: 1. Chronological volumes; 2. Calligrapher volumes. Each volume is categorized by era and included in ten major sections, with additional sections for Seal Engraving, Treatises, Appendices, and Supplementary Notes. The Chronological volumes include works such as oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, bamboo and silk documents, pottery and brick inscriptions, stele inscriptions, epitaphs, carved stones, cliff carvings, sculptures, and Buddhist manuscripts. These works are classified and organized chronologically. The Calligrapher volumes are divided into three types: Class A volumes feature works by a single calligrapher; Class B volumes feature works by two to four calligraphers; Class C volumes feature works by multiple calligraphers within a specific chronological period. The table of contents for each volume, except for the preface and general index, is organized according to the two types of volume structure. The Chronological volumes include: color illustrations of original artifacts or rubbings, general introductions and specialized discussions, plate illustrations of works, plate annotations, chronology, diagrams showing the distribution of artifact and work discoveries, main reference bibliographies and literature, and plate index. The Calligrapher volumes include: portraits of calligraphers (Class A volumes), color illustrations of original calligraphy albums or selected works, biographies and specialized discussions of calligraphers, general introductions to calligraphy in specific periods (Class C volumes), plate illustrations of works, annotations of works, selected annotations of calligraphers' theories, chronology of calligraphers, diagrams showing the calligraphers' travel routes, main reference bibliographies, and plate index. In Class A calligrapher volumes, supplementary volumes feature relatives and personally instructed disciples of the calligrapher to clarify mutual influences. The Appendices include: A Chronological Record of Chinese Calligraphy (with name index and work index), A Brief Illustrated History of Calligraphy in Minority Scripts, A Brief Illustrated History of Calligraphy Abroad, and A Brief Illustrated History of the Four Treasures of the Study. Several supplementary volumes are included to classify and organize important works that could not be accommodated or were overlooked during the compilation process. The maps in each volume are based on the "Historical Atlas of China" edited by Tan Qixiang. The entire book is printed in traditional characters to avoid confusion between ancient and modern scripts.