Zhang Menglong Stele - Famous Steles and Calligraphy of China

Author: He Hong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: "Zhang Menglong Stele," erected in the Zhengguang third year (522) of the Ming Emperor of Northern Wei, full title "Clear Praise Stele of Zhang Fu Jun of Lu Prefecture," in regular script. The stele has 26 lines on the front, each with 46 characters, with the last four lines being the title and date. The back of the stele carves names in 12 columns, with varying numbers of characters. The stele's header is in regular script with three rows and 12 characters. The names of the author and calligrapher are not recorded. The stele records the deeds of Zhang Menglong in promoting education. It is currently preserved in the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong, and is one of the outstanding works of the later period of Wei Stele calligraphy. The calligraphic styles of the header, front, and back of the stele are distinct. The header's large characters are solemn, majestic, and extraordinary, while the back's characters are free and unrestrained, thereby complementing the square and robust characters of the front, creating a perfect unity. This collection includes the full text of the famous Wei Stele "Zhao Menglong Stele," effectively reproducing the appearance of the original stele, making it a practical and effective model for calligraphic practice.