Yao Bo Duo Brother Statue Inscription

Author: Compiled by the Press
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-12-01
Features: "The Inscription of Yao Bo Duo Brothers," also known as "The Carved Stone Statue of Yao Bo Duo Brothers." Engraved in September of the 20th year of the Taihe era (496 AD), unearthed from Yao County, Shaanxi, and now stored in the Xi'an Stele Forest. It is written in regular script, with 23 lines, each containing 28-89 characters. There are inscriptions on both sides. Northern Wei sculptures are divided into two different styles: elegant and rough. Since the sculptures are small works, they are generally handled with meticulous care, with calligraphers first writing the text and then carvers engraving it. However, there is also a category that is directly carved by carvers without prior calligraphy, thus not only characterized by roughness and carelessness but also possessing an arbitrary arrangement and natural charm with changing appearances. The "The Inscription of Yao Bo Duo Brothers" seems not to have been engraved after calligraphy, so it belongs to the latter category. Why is this? Because the "Inscription of Wei Chi" from the previous year and the "Inscription of Shiping Gong" from the following year, in terms of carving methods and the precision of strokes, are beyond comparison to the "The Inscription of Yao Bo Duo Brothers." It is precisely because it was in the mature period of sculpture production that its free and unrestrained style can be inferred to have been created by an experienced carver. "The Inscription of Yao Bo Duo Brothers," also known as "The Carved Stone Statue of Yao Bo Duo Brothers." Engraved in September of the 20th year of the Taihe era (496 AD), unearthed from Yao County, Shaanxi, and now stored in the Xi'an Stele Forest. It is written in regular script, with 23 lines, each containing 28-89 characters. There are inscriptions on both sides. Northern Wei sculptures are divided into two different styles: elegant and rough. Since the sculptures are small works, they are generally handled with meticulous care, with calligraphers first writing the text and then carvers engraving it. However, there is also a category that is directly carved by carvers without prior calligraphy, thus not only characterized by roughness and carelessness but also possessing an arbitrary arrangement and natural charm with changing appearances. The "The Inscription of Yao Bo Duo Brothers" seems not to have been engraved after calligraphy, so it belongs to the latter category. Why is this? Because the "Inscription of Wei Chi" from the previous year and the "Inscription of Shiping Gong" from the following year, in terms of carving methods and the precision of strokes, are beyond comparison to the "The Inscription of Yao Bo Duo Brothers." It is precisely because it was in the mature period of sculpture production that its free and unrestrained style can be inferred to have been created by an experienced carver.