Bronze Vessel Stele

Author: Compiled by the Press
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-08-01
Features: "The Liji Stele," formally titled "The Stele of Han Lu Prime Minister Han Ji Constructing the Confucius Temple Ritual Vessels," also known as "Han Ji Stele" or "Repairing the Confucius Temple Ritual Vessels Stele." Carved in the second year of Yongshou (156 AD) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. In clerical script, sixteen lines with thirty-six characters per line. The back and sides of the stele are intact. Currently located in the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong, it is collectively known with the "Yiying Stele" and "Shichen Stele" as the three great masterpieces of the temple hall. This stele exhibits diverse brushwork variations, blending square and round elements, balanced yet in structure, with distinct thick and thin lines, strong and vigorous strokes, resembling iron in their thinness and hardness. Qing Dynasty scholar Wang Shu praised this stele: "Clerical script reached its peak in the Han Dynasty, with each stele presenting a unique wonder, none like this one, and this one is exceptionally extraordinary." Qing Dynasty scholar Fang Shuo remarked: "The charm of this stele lies not in its neatness but in its variation, not in its grandeur but in its vigorous brushwork." Guo Shangxian praised: "The Han Dynasty's script reaches its zenith with the 'Han Ji Constructing the Ritual Vessels Stele,' surpassing elegance and grace, like auspicious clouds in the sky, with all phenomena shining beneath." Qing Dynasty scholar Yang Shoujing remarked: "Among them, only this stele combines these qualities. In essence, it embodies extraordinary danger within balance, and sparse elegance within density, which is why it is so difficult." Tang Dynasty calligrapher Chu Suiliang's style derived from this stele. Mid-Ming Dynasty rubbings of this stele, according to Wang Zhuanghong's research: the character "Zhuī" (pursue) in the first line's "Zhuīwéi Dàgǔ" (pursuing the great ancient) has its final stroke connected to the right stone, while the character "Gǔ" (ancient) is only slightly connected to the strokes. In the re-carved version, the character below "Yù" (nurture) is carved as "Kǒng" (Confucius), and it is complete and unbroken. The Ming Dynasty rubbings are now published to delight readers.