Li Beibei's Inscription at Shaolin Temple's Preaching Platform--Famous Steles and Calligraphy Through the Ages

Author: (Tang) Li Beibei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Li Yang (687-747), styled Taihe, was a native of Yangzhou, Jiangdu. He held the position of Governor of Beibei and was thus posthumously known as "Li Beibei." His calligraphy was unparalleled in his time, and Li Yangbing praised him as the "Immortal Hand of Calligraphy." Especially, Li Beibei merged the style of the "Southern Tablets" represented by the "Two Wangs" with the calligraphy of Northern Wei, creating a unique style. "The Precepts Platform Inscription of Shaolin Temple" was written by Li Beibei at the age of thirty-eight, when he was at the prime of his life and entering a mature period. It is considered a work of complete spiritual and physical vigor; it is also the smallest surviving handwriting of Li Beibei. Previous scholars have determined that this stele is a forgery, but when evaluating it purely from an artistic perspective, its artistic value is still considerable.