Northern Wei Dynasty "Cui Binyuan Stele"

Author: Liu Heng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-02-01
Features: The full title of "Cui Binyuan Stele" is "Wei Guo Nan Zhaojun Taihai Li Fu Jun Fu Shi Cui Shi Mu Zhi," inscribed in the second year of Shengguo (519) in the fourth month of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It has a cover, with the stele measuring 67.5 cm in height and 66.5 cm in width. The inscriptions on the stele are in regular script, with 33 lines and 33 characters per line. The cover, measuring 54 cm in height and 55 cm in width, features the names and official ranks of the stele's main figure and their relatives, written in regular script with 25 lines and 15 characters per line. Additionally, the full title of the cover and the burial date are inscribed on the left of the cover in regular script with two lines, slightly larger in font. The arrangement of text on this stele is quite unique. Since the main figure came from a high-ranking family, her own clan, her husband's family, and all her in-laws were prominent and distinguished officials, the narrative is extensive, extending even to the cover. The Northern Dynasties' Bojing Cui, Fanyang Lu, and Yingyang Zheng families were all renowned for calligraphy, each with its own distinct style. Cui Binyuan, being from the Cui family, was also closely related to the Lu and Zheng families. Therefore, her stele must have been inscribed by a skilled relative. Observing the calligraphy on this stele, the dots are solid and vigorous, the structure is tight and dignified, fully demonstrating the meticulous and refined style of Northern Dynasties' stele inscriptions.