Shanghai Library Collection of Fine Ancient Inscriptions and Prints

Author: Wang Chang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: This book is a collection of exquisite rare stone inscriptions and rubbings from the Shanghai Library's holdings, featuring 76 rare items, nearly encompassing all its unique holdings and first-class cultural relics. The manuscript consists of two parts: a plate section and textual annotations. The plate section presents selected pages of rubbings, displayed in their original size or close to it to capture the essence of the original works. The title seals on the front covers and the famous postscripts on the rubbings are fully included to allow calligraphy researchers and version experts to study the provenance and circulation of each item. The entire book is printed in full color, enabling readers, especially those who rarely get to see rare items and calligraphy enthusiasts, to appreciate the spirit of the original works. The textual annotations provide detailed accounts of the dynasty, time, location, and calligrapher's name of each stone inscription or published edition, trace the history and current status of the original items or their remains with documentary evidence, examine the version and provenance of the carvings and rubbings, record the condition of worn-out characters and the names of postscript authors, viewers, annotators, and seal owners, compare the strengths and weaknesses of each item, and document the number of leaves, height and width of the covers, and dimensions of the inner core. The overall annotations of this book are relatively rigorous, and the comparisons of the strengths and weaknesses of each item are also quite fair. When examining the provenance and resolving unresolved issues, it pays attention to incorporating the achievements of predecessors and contemporary scholars, demonstrating the compilers' expertise.