Great Master's Preaching at the Stupa

Author: Sun Baowen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-01-01
Features: Each stroke in the stele demonstrates a ( does not need translation), achieving harmonious adjustments in the process of taking momentum and executing the brush. It aims for a delicate, robust, and resilient mid-stroke technique. Every stroke is spontaneous yet within bounds, allowing variations in strokes to be adapted to the momentum and structure, rather than adhering to fixed formulas, yet there are guidelines to follow. The regular script and running script styles reached their mature process and flourished in the Tang Dynasty. In the three stages of Tang Dynasty calligraphy development represented by Ou, Chu, and Yan-Liu, Chu's calligraphy, as a transitional phase between the early and later stages, served as a bridge connecting them. Chu was a transitional calligrapher who carried forward the legacy and paved the way for the future. His characters appear slender but are actually full; his brushwork combines both square and round techniques. This stele is also a mature work of Chu in his later years. Yan and Liu followed Chu, promoting his calligraphic norms and breaking the mystery of art, making it accessible to young learners. Thus, this stele became a model for beginners in learning regular script and was widely used for instruction.