North Wei Zhang Xuan Stele Inscription

Author: Selection of Calligraphic Works from Historical Stele and Inscriptions
Publisher:
Publishing Date: July 1, 1984
Features: Chinese calligraphy art boasts a long history and a unique style, with generations of masters and a rich treasure trove of works. To meet the urgent needs of, especially middle school students, for practicing traditional calligraphy, as well as the needs of calligraphy enthusiasts for appreciation and learning, we have selected works in various calligraphic styles and from renowned masters throughout history to compile this series, 《Selection of Calligraphic Works from Historical Stele and Inscriptions》.
《The Stele of Zhang Xuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty》, originally titled 《The Stele of Zhang Xuan, Governor of Nanyang》, was inscribed in regular script with twenty lines, each containing twenty characters, during the first year of the Putai era of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The original stone of the Northern Stele has been lost, and only a single, framed copy preserved by He Shaoji in the Qing Dynasty remains today. The calligraphy on the stele is exquisite, with many elements of clerical script, showing a rustic and unrefined charm, inspired by the Han Dynasty 《Zizhuan Stele》.
In his inscription, He Shaoji praised, "Transforming seal script and clerical script into regular script, it achieves perfection in every aspect, with no stroke lacking elegance. Yet its boldness, thickness, and ancient refinement are unmatched by any other work, not even 《The Stele of Zhang He》." This edition is reprinted based on the old Qing Dynasty copy of a Song Dynasty rubbing, providing a reference for calligraphy enthusiasts to practice and study.