Complete Collection of Chinese Calligraphy. Vol. 46, Kang Li, Yang Weizhen, Ni Zan Volume

Author: Liu Zhengcheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-12-01
Features: This book collects over 100 volumes of calligraphy works, ranging from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the contemporary era. The volumes are divided into two major categories: 1. Chronological volumes; 2. Calligrapher volumes. Each volume is categorized by era and included in ten sections, with additional sections for seal carving, treatises, appendices, and supplements.
Chronological volumes include works such as oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, bamboo slips, silk manuscripts, pottery and brick inscriptions, steles, epitaphs, carved stones, cliff carvings, sculptures, and Buddhist scriptures. These works are classified and organized chronologically.
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 from a specific era.
The table of contents for each volume, excluding the preface and general index, follows the two categories of volume organization.
Chronological volumes include:
- Color illustrations of original artifacts or rubbings
- General introductions and specialized essays
- Plate illustrations of works
- Explanations of plates
- Chronological tables
- Maps showing the distribution of artifact and work discoveries
- Main reference bibliographies and literature
- Plate index
Calligrapher volumes include:
- Calligrapher portraits (Class A volumes)
- Color illustrations of original calligraphy albums or selected works
- Biographical essays and specialized essays on calligraphers
- General introductions to calligraphy in specific eras (Class C volumes)
- Plate illustrations of works
- Explanations of works
- Selected annotations of calligrapher's theories
- Chronological tables of calligraphers
- Maps showing the calligrapher's travel routes
- Main reference bibliographies
- Plate index
In Class A calligrapher volumes, supplementary volumes feature the calligrapher's relatives and personally instructed disciples to clarify their mutual influences.
The appendices include:
- A chronological table of Chinese calligraphy (with name index and work index)
- A brief illustrated history of calligraphy in minority ethnic scripts
- A brief illustrated history of calligraphy overseas
- A brief illustrated history of the Four Treasures of the Study
The supplementary volumes include several important works that were not accommodated or omitted during the compilation process.
All maps in the volumes are based on the "Historical Atlas of China" edited by Tan Qixiang. The book is entirely printed in traditional characters to avoid confusion between ancient and modern scripts.