Tang Chu Suiliang's Calligraphy - Record of the Holy Teachings on the

Author: Editorial Group of Selected Calligraphic Works from Ancient Stele and Stone Inscriptions
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1984-01-01
Features: The "Record of the Holy Teachings at Yanta Pagoda" is commonly referred to as the "Record of the Holy Teachings at Yanta Pagoda" and is also known as the "Record of the Holy Teachings at En Temple." The preface was written by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, while the record was composed by Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, when he was a crown prince. It was inscribed in regular script by Chu Suiliang. The preface consists of twenty-one lines, each with forty-two characters, and the record has twenty lines, each with forty characters. In the fourth year of the Yonghui era (AD 655), the preface and record were carved into stone by Wan Wen. The two stones were later placed on both sides of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda in the Ciyun Temple in Chang'an, hence the name.
Chu Suiliang (596–659), styled Dengshan, was a native of Qiantang (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He was well-versed in classics and history and excelled in clerical and regular scripts. After the death of Yu Shennan, Emperor Taizong sighed, "After Yu Shennan's passing, there is no one left to discuss calligraphy with!" Wei Zheng then recommended Chu Suiliang, saying, "Chu Suiliang's handwriting is forceful and deeply embodies the style of Wang Yishao." The emperor cherished Wang Xizhi's calligraphy and offered gold and silk in exchange for it. As a result, calligraphic works from all over the country were sent to the capital, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine and forged pieces. Only Chu Suiliang was capable of evaluating and identifying them, and he compiled them into catalogs and stored them in the imperial collection. His calligraphy inherited the tradition of Wang Xizhi, combining softness and strength, with smooth and round strokes. He was highly regarded and is known as one of the "Four Masters of Early Tang," alongside Ou Yangxun, Yu Shennan, and Xue Ji. His surviving calligraphic works include the "Inscription for Ni Kuan" and the "Inscription of the Yin Fu Classic," while his stone inscriptions include the "Record of the Holy Teachings at Yanta Pagoda," the "Inscription of the Buddha's niche at Yique," and the "Inscription for Fang Xuanling," among others.
This book is a facsimile reproduction based on a Ming-era rubbing from the collection of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Store, where the two characters "zhi" in the record were not sealed. The paper and ink are elegant, the characters are clear and smooth, and the strokes are distinct, resembling original calligraphy. It is an excellent learning model and serves as a valuable reference for calligraphy enthusiasts to study and practice.