Han Cao Stele: A Collection of Masterpieces of Steles from Various Dynasties in China

Author: Xiulin, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: "The Cao Quan Stele," formally known as "The Stele of Cao Quan, Magistrate of Taiyang County in the Han Dynasty," with Cao Quan's courtesy name Jingwan, hence also referred to as "The Stele of Cao Jingwan." It was carved in the second year of the Zhongping era of Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty (185 AD). It was unearthed in Xinci Village, Taiyang (now Heyang County, Shaanxi Province) in the early years of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. In 1956, it was moved to the Xi'an Stele Forest. The stele measures 253 cm in height and 231 cm in width. There are 20 lines on the front face, with 45 characters per line. The back face has five columns of inscriptions, with the last line reading "Made in the tenth month of the second year of Zhongping," thus its creation date is determined. When unearthed, the stele had complete strokes, except for the character "yin," which was half missing. After the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1722 AD), it broke and lost some characters.
The overall style of "The Cao Quan Stele" is elegant, refined, and exquisitely graceful, with a dignified and refined demeanor. In terms of its strokes, it balances tension and relaxation, with each stroke precise yet lively. Its lines are smooth, concise, and refined. Its structure is strict yet elegant, with a vibrant and flowing rhythm, full of youthful elegance and vitality. In terms of its calligraphy, it primarily uses rounded strokes, often adopting the style of seal script, with softness containing toughness and toughness emerging from softness. Within its roundness, it incorporates spontaneous and expansive brushwork. Each character in the stele takes on its own form and embodies its own spirit.
"The Cao Quan Stele" is not only beautifully written but also made of hard, smooth stone with meticulous carving. As a result, after a thousand years, its characters remain clear, with distinct edges and corners, a rare preservation among Han Dynasty steles. Most Han steles are characterized by strong, rustic, or square, severe styles, but this stele stands out with its unique beauty of curves. Between straight and curved lines, it enriches brushwork and varies structures, achieving an artistic effect of balance between softness and toughness, neither too aggressive nor too restrained. However, when practicing calligraphy based on this stele, we must not focus solely on its flowing and unrestrained beauty but also pay attention to its dignified and forceful aspects. Only in this way can we avoid superficiality and truly grasp its essence.