Text◎Zhao Lei
Guide
During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Chinese calligraphy ushered in a unique and crucial stage of transformation. During this period, Wei Bei became the founder of the new style of Kaishu in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and there was a transitional role between the previous and the next. As a typical representative of the stone carvings of the Northern Wei Dynasty, "Mu Liang's Epitaph" naturally has important significance. "Mu Liang's Epitaph" is not an ordinary tombstone, the calligraphy style it shows has typical characteristics of the times, with a square and upright, grand style of calligraphy.
The words engraved in the "Epitaph of Mu Liang" are elegant and upright, reflecting the vigorous beauty of the calligraphy art of the Northern Wei Dynasty - majestic, handsome and upright. Its square brush structure, sharp edges and corners, and the sense of power like a knife and an axe in each stroke have attracted the attention of many calligraphy lovers. Such a calligraphy style, as the "immature body" of regular script, is actually a bridge between the past and the future, which inherits the old style of Qin and Han Lishu, and the new system of Sui and Tang Kaishu.
As an epitaph, in addition to its artistic value, its historical value is also self-evident. As a historical document, the epitaph has a variety of forms and abundant remains, which provides a precious physical reference for us to study the calligraphy art of the Northern Wei Dynasty. They not only bear witness to the evolution of calligraphy art in that era, but also record the historical context and cultural changes.
In the Qing Dynasty, with the rise of epigraphy, scholars began to pay more and more attention to the academic value and artistic status of these ancient stone epitaphs. Ruan Yuan, a scholar of gold and stone in the Qing Dynasty, began to promote calligraphy in theory when many people did not realize the value of calligraphy in the Northern Wei Dynasty. He not only carried forward the calligraphy style of the Northern Wei Dynasty, but also sowed a profound and lasting influence on the establishment and development of monuments in later generations.
The beauty of the calligraphy of "Mu Liang's Epitaph" lies not only in the beauty of his appearance, but also in the depth of the history and culture it contains. These epitaphs in the Northern Wei Dynasty are like historical nodes, marking the historical transition of the development of Chinese calligraphy from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Sui and Tang dynasties.
By studying stone carvings such as "Mu Liang's Epitaph", we can discover the artistic and cultural context behind them. It is not just an ordinary inscription, it is a microcosm of the art of calligraphy in the Northern Wei Dynasty and a key point in the evolution of Chinese calligraphy. Through the words of these stone tablets, we can gain insight into the artistic style of an era and plant the seeds of innovation in the art of calligraphy.
Northern Wei Dynasty calligraphy "Mu Liang Epitaph" appreciation
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