Epitaphs occupy an important place in the ancient stone carving art of the mainland. It has undergone a long period of development and evolution, to the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties to mature, the Sui and Tang dynasties are the peak period of epitaphs, the tomb owner up to the emperor and generals, down to the merchants and the common people, a large number, and the rhetoric is gorgeous, the calligraphy is exquisite, for us to study, study calligraphy provides valuable information.
The Sui and Tang dynasties were the peak of regular script art, and the "New Sui and Tang Dynasty Inscriptions" series selected 7 kinds of Sui and Tang inscriptions unearthed in recent years, all of which were regular scripts, namely: Sui Yangji Epitaph, Sui General Yang Su Epitaph, Yan Qinli's Wife Yin Yiji Epitaph, Wei Chi Jingde Epitaph, Yongtai Princess Epitaph, Di Renjie Yuan Gongyu Epitaph, Yan Zhenqing Li Terrier Epitaph. The inscriptions in this series are all published for the first time, and are an excellent model for calligraphy learners to copy and appreciate.
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Yan Zhenqing's book Li Terrier's epitaph
Yan Zhenqing is a famous calligrapher in ancient China, especially the regular script has high artistic value. Li Terrier's epitaph is now stored in the Tang West Market Museum in Xi'an, written and written by Yan Zhenqing Tianbao for nine years, the calligraphy is broad and harmonious, it can be clearly seen that Yan Zhenqing's small Kai penmanship lines in this period are mostly influenced by Chu Suiliang, the penmanship is strong and clear, although the lines are thin and solid, the knot is broad, and the breath is ancient, it is an important model for learning and studying the formation and evolution of Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy style, and it is also the first publication, which is precious.
Di Renjie's book Yuan Gongyu's epitaph
Di Renjie was a famous prime minister in the Wuzhou period of the Tang Dynasty, and although his calligraphy has been circulated very little, he is also quite accomplished. Yuan Gongyu's epitaph, for Di Renjie in the first year of Wu Zhou Jiushi (700 years) wrote and wrote, this chronicle calligraphy between Ou, Yu, Chu, compared to Yu Shinan is rigorous and sharp, compared to Ouyang Xun is round and handsome, the lines are strong and more Chu method. The calligraphy is stretched throughout the letter, strong and plump, and the bone strength is hidden, and it is also rigid and soft. You can also see the influence of Wang Xizhi's "Orchid Pavilion Preface", which is more agile and more agile in line with the line. This work can be called the representative work of Di Renjie's calligraphy, and it is also the representative work of regular script in the Wu and Zhou dynasties, which has important reference value for the study of calligraphy in the Tang Dynasty.
Epitaph of Mrs. Yan Qinli's wife, Yin Yiji
Yan Zhenqing's book "Yan Qinli Monument" has always been a must-learn model for learning regular script. Similarly, the epitaph of Mrs. Yan Qinli Yin Yiji also has a high calligraphy art value, this stele is now stored in the Forest of Steles Museum in Xi'an, the subject is Mrs. Yan Qinli, the epitaph was unearthed in the cemetery of the Yan family in Qujiang, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, and the book was written in the first year of Tang Linde. The calligraphy of this Zhi is wide and rigorous, the center of gravity is downward, extremely and plump, dignified and majestic, the gesture is stretched out, the breath is quiet and muddy, and the calligraphy is between Europe and Xu. Its chapter is good at arrangement, highlighting the contrast between the middle and the surrounding light, the virtual and real changes, beautiful and elegant, and very temple-like.
Epitaph of Wei Chi Jingde
Wei Chi Jingde was a famous general in the Tang Dynasty and made outstanding contributions to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. The epitaph of Wei Chi Jingde is now stored in the Zhaoling Museum, Tang Xianqing three years of calligraphy, this calligraphy inherits the calligraphy style of the Northern Dynasties, and the penmanship and lines are influenced by Chu Suiliang's calligraphy. The line of writing is natural, and there are many people who are connected with the meaning of the pen throughout the article, which is more flexible, and the pen is both square and round, and the knot is square, and the vertical trend is occasionally seen. The epitaph calligraphy of Wei Chi Jingde broke people's impression of the calligraphy style of the early Tang Dynasty with Ou and Yu as the mainstream. Its pen gesture is vigorous, but also mellow and vigorous, the writing is relaxed and natural and has a broad flow of air, it is the fine work of the regular script of the Tang Dynasty, and it is also an excellent model for calligraphy lovers to learn Tang Kai.
Epitaph of Princess Yongtai
The epitaph of Princess Yongtai is now in the Qianling Museum, written by the great poet Xu Yanbo of the Tang Dynasty, and the book was written in the first year of Dazu. This Zhi calligraphy is between Europe and Yu, the knot is dignified and square, the pen is subtle, does not show the edge and has a neutralizing atmosphere, both square and round, and the lines are round and even. The whole is decent, plain and elegant, with muscles and bones, and there are many beautiful things that are neutralized in the south of Yu Shi. His brushwork lines are also influenced by Ouyang's style of inquiry, and occasionally see square writers. It is a representative work of regular script of this period. The Tang Dynasty was the peak of the ancient regular script in the mainland, and the publication of this epitaph has a certain reference value for learning Tang Kai.
Epitaph of Yang Su, a general of Sui
The epitaph of Yang Su, the general of the Sui Dynasty, is the epitaph calligraphy of the Sui Dynasty, which is stored in the Cultural Center of Tongguan County, Shaanxi Province, and is written in the third year of the Great Cause (607). The calligraphy of this Zhi is beautiful and elegant, the body is square, the lines are fine, the style of calligraphy inherits the Sui Dynasty Junxiu is stable, broad and broad, compared with the "Su Xiaoci Epitaph", the lines are more round and even, more thin, has completely faded the square pen of the North Tablet, and formed the most mature regular script of Sui Dynasty calligraphy. At the same time, this journal is influenced by the Confucian culture of the Central Plains, and gradually tends to be strict and beautiful, which is the most representative work of the Tang and Shang eras, and has a very important position in the study of the formation of Ou, Yu and Yu calligraphy, so it has high academic value.
Epitaph of Sui Yangji
Sui Yangji epitaph unearthed in Huayin County, Shaanxi Province, book in Sui Renshou three years, its calligraphy style is close to "Su Xiaoci Epitaph", the word mouth is clear and intact, the dot painting is clear, the pen is fine, the knot is symmetrical, upright and peaceful. Its penmanship is round in the square, the north and the south are integrated, there is both the beauty of the south post, and the neatness of the north tablet, both beautiful and vigorous, it is the representative work of calligraphy in the Sui Dynasty, the pioneer of the style of calligraphy represented by Ouyang Xun in the Tang Dynasty, has a high publishing value, and is also an important model for calligraphy lovers to take the law and learn regular script.