Complete Collection of Chinese Calligraphy 5: Reading Bamboo Slips and Silk Manuscripts from the Qin and Han Dynasties

Author: Liu Zhengcheng (Editor-in-Chief) / Wo Xinghua (Editor)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-08-27
Features: This book collects calligraphy works ranging from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the contemporary era, totaling over one hundred volumes. The organization is divided into two major categories:
1. Period-based volumes;
2. Calligrapher-based volumes.
Each volume is categorized by era and included in one of ten sections, with additional sections for Seal Engraving, Treatises, Appendices, and Supplementary Notes.
The period-based 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 manuscripts, primarily those without signatures from the Song Dynasty and earlier. These works are classified and organized chronologically.
The calligrapher-based 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 or collective calligraphers within a specific period.
The table of contents for each volume, excluding the preface and general index, follows the two categories of organization.
For period-based volumes, the structure includes:
- 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.
For calligrapher-based volumes, the structure includes:
- Calligrapher portraits (for Class A volumes);
- Color illustrations of original calligraphy albums or selected works;
- Evaluations and specialized essays on the calligrapher;
- General introductions to calligraphy of the period (for Class C volumes);
- Plate illustrations of works;
- Explanations of plates;
- Selected annotations of calligrapher’s theories;
- Chronological tables of the calligrapher;
- Maps showing the calligrapher’s travels;
- Main reference bibliographies;
- Plate index.
In Class A calligrapher volumes, supplementary volumes feature relatives and direct disciples of the calligrapher to clarify 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 scripts;
- A brief illustrated history of calligraphy overseas;
- A brief illustrated history of the Four Treasures of the Study (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone).
The Supplementary Notes section contains several volumes, classifying important works that could not be included in the main sections.
All maps in the book are based on the Historical Atlas of China edited by Tan Qixiang. The book is printed in traditional characters to avoid confusion between ancient and modern scripts.