(Biography) Zhao Mengfu self-portrait "Yuan Zhao Wenmin GongGong", 63.8x30.8 cm, collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Zhao Mengfu (1254~1322) was summoned by the ancestors of the Yuan Dynasty in the 23rd year of the Yuan Dynasty (1286) and became an official in Dadu. He experienced the five dynasties of Yuan Shizu, Chengzong, Wuzong, Renzong and Yingzong, and ranked first as a fourth-class southerner, "Five Dynasties of Glory, famous all over the world". Zhao Mengfu was a well-known writer, calligrapher and painter of the Yuan Dynasty, among whom he achieved the highest achievements in calligraphy. The "History of Yuan" commented on Zhao Mengfu: "Seal, fence, division, affiliation, truth, line, grass, all crown ancient and modern, so the name of the book is the world." Qi Gong also said: "There is a Yuan dynasty on the vein of books, and Yan Yan is not out of Wu Xing." ”
According to the statistics of literature bibliography, inscription expansion, and heirloom inkblots, there are more than 200 kinds of inscriptions written by Zhao Mengfu, of which there are nearly 100 kinds of inscriptions and inkblots that we can see today. Zhao Mengfu's numerous calligraphy tablets are closely related to his calligraphy artistic achievements and official experience. The Yuanren Shangguan Bogui once said: "At the beginning of the present country, there were Wu Xing Zhao Ziang, who were new to the Six Dynasties, who were famous for their calligraphy, and who were later officials to become bachelors, and people often asked for books and tablets, and Fang retired to take Sun Guoting, Li Beihai, Zhang Congshen, and Su Lingzhi's miscellaneous books, and they were not very cursive. (See Shangguan BoGuibao's "Zhao Mengfu Xianyu Shuhe Scroll", "Shiqu Baoji Preliminary Edition", vol. 1)
The calligrapher zhong xuan of the Three Kingdoms period had three-body calligraphy, namely the inscription stone book, the charter book, and the Xingyi book; the style of the book he used was different depending on the purpose of writing. Similarly, Zhao Mengfu gathered the strengths of Zhiyong, Li Yong, Chu Suiliang, Liu Gongquan and other families and changed them to form his own unique style of calligraphy. As Qi Gong said: "As for the book of tablets, it was regarded as a difficult task by the past. It is used as a manifestation of people, so the body is noble and solemn, and the words should be clear. Often gain in neatness, lost in the plate stagnation. The Zhao clan is uniquely able to transport the pen of the Jin and Tang Dynasties, which is in the big characters, which is why it is particularly difficult to catch and also. (Qi Gong, "100 Poems on Qi Gong", Beijing: Rong Baozhai Publishing House, 1995, p. 56)
The inscriptions written by Zhao Mengfu can be roughly divided into four periods:
(1) Early stele: before the second year of Daedeok (1298). The inscriptions of this period are mainly concentrated during the period when Zhao Mengfu was released from Jinan as an official.
(2) Mid-term stele: from the second year of Daedeok (1298) to the first year of Daejo (1308). In the second year of Dade (1298), Zhao Mengfu was summoned by Emperor Yuan Chengzong to the Capital Golden Book of the Great Tibetan Classic. In August of the third year of Dade (1299), he was appointed as a Confucian scholar of Jixian Zhi and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. From the third year to the second year of Dade (1299~1309), he was promoted in Confucianism in Hangzhou Guanjiang and Zhejiang for ten years, and wrote and preserved a large number of inscriptions in today's Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai areas.
(3) Middle and late stele: from the third year of the great year (1310) to the second year of the reign (1322). During this period, Zhao Mengfu was old. He gained the trust of Emperor Yuanrenzong, and his official position was gradually promoted from yipin's Hanlin scholar Chengzhi and Ronglu Doctor. During this period, Zhao Mengfu participated in various civil administration work of the imperial court because of his official position, mainly writing articles and stele. Therefore, The Inscriptions of Zhao Mengfu are spread throughout most provinces in the country, and most of them are Fengshu Steles.
(4) Inscription on the back: after the second year of the reign (1322).
After The Death of Zhao Mengfu, the Zhao Shu inscription mainly existed in the following situations:
(1) Written by Zhao Mengfu during his lifetime, and erected by posterity;
(2) Ghostwriting by Zhao Mengfu's relatives and friends;
(3) Later generations collected Zhao Mengfu's book on the stone;
(4) A pseudo-masterpiece imitating Zhao Mengfu's calligraphy.
This article combines some of the Jiatuo rare books collected by the Forbidden City in Beijing, and briefly introduces the following.
"Songjiang Baoyun Temple Stele"
Figure 1 "Monument of Baoyun Temple in Songjiang", Qing Tuoben, Collection of the Forbidden City in Beijing
The inscription is written in the original book (Figure 1), 25 lines, full of 47 characters. It was established in May of the first year of the Yuan Dynasty (1308). Written by Mou Wei, written by Zhao Mengfu, and incorruptible and secretly known as The Hague Seal. The inscription records the history of Baoyun Temple in Songjiang and the rebuilding of the temple by the abbot Jingyue in the Yuan Dynasty. Songjiang Baoyun Temple, located in Tinglin Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai, was built in the Tang Dynasty and has been rebuilt many times over the centuries. The inscription is exquisitely painted, the flesh and bones are uniform, and the body posture is beautiful and rigorous, which is a masterpiece of zhao Mengfu's middle-aged calligraphy. The original stele has been destroyed, and the remnants of the stone are still in the local area of Tinglin.
This volume of ink paper 18 open. The cover has the outer signature of the anonymity book, the front page has the inner signature of Xu Zonghao's book, and the back page has the ink photo of "Songjiang Baoyun Temple" 4 open. Zhao Mengfu's book "Records of Songjiang Baoyun Temple", the original inkblot is a volume that has survived, and it is now missing. According to ink photographs, when the former abbot of the temple, Jingyue, completed the reconstruction of the monastery in the eleventh year of Dade (1307), he asked Zhao Mengfu to write a stele and seal his forehead. When the monument was erected the following year, it was already the Yuan Wuzong who changed the Yuan, so the time was changed to the first year of the Yuan, and the seal was sealed by Lian Mi Zhi'er Hague. Compared with the inscription, the inkblot is more missing.
The ancients carved tablets, directly written on the stone. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, with the prevalence of imitation of fa ti, the way of engraving inscriptions has gradually changed; people have learned from the method of engraving posts, first writing the inscription on paper, then using transparent paper to imitate it, then using cinnabar to outline the back of the paper, then rubbing the stone, and finally engraving it in stone according to the cinnabar marks. Therefore, Qi Gong pointed out in the article "From Henan Inscriptions on the Art of Ancient Stone Carving Calligraphy": "Ancient steles, before the Yuan Dynasty, were all 'written on stone', and it was not until about the Yuan Dynasty that the same method of engraving and posting appeared on paper, copied on stone, and then engraved methods. "Zhao Mengfu's inscription is to write ink first, and then the engraver will engrave the stone. Today, the inscriptions written by the surviving Zhao Mengfu include: "The Record of the Reconstruction of the Three Doors of Xuanmiaoguan", "The Record of The Miaoyan Temple in Huzhou", "The Record of the Three Qing Temples", "The Record of the Huaiyun Courtyard in Kunshan", "The Tablet of Biba", "The Monument of Qiu Yi", "The Record of the Hangzhou Fushen Guan", "The Record of the Reconstruction of the Pagoda of Guangfu Temple" and so on.
"Yousheng Temple Reconstruction Xuanwu Temple Stele"
Figure 2 "Monument to the Reconstruction of Xuanwu Temple at Yousheng Temple", Ming Tuoben, Forbidden City, Beijing
The inscription is written in true form (Figure 2), 32 lines, full of 53 characters. Ming Shan wrote an article, and Zhao Mengfu wrote an inscription and sealed it. Li Zhang, engraved. The inscription records the construction history and reconstruction of the Hangzhou Yousheng Temple, and recounts the deeds of Xuanwu Apparition. There is no time for the inscription, but according to the official title of "Zhongshun Dafu, Yangzhou Road Taizhou Yin and Persuasion of Agriculture", combined with relevant historical materials, it can be seen that in the second year of the second year (1309), Zhao Mengfu's ten-year Zhejiang Confucian promotion period in Hangzhou expired, and he was changed to Zhongshun Dafu and Yangzhou Road Taizhou Yin and persuaded agricultural affairs. In September of the following year (1310), Zhao Mengfu was ordered to send his family to Beijing, so the monument was erected in the third year of the Yuan Dynasty (1310). The stele is relatively complete, made of high-grade Taihu stone, and now exists in the Hangzhou City Stele Forest.
The calligraphy of this stele is similar to that of the Zhao Shu "Records of The Huaiyun Courtyard of Kunshan". Qing Liu Qingquan's "Continuation of the Golden Stone" commented on this stele: "In the sharpness of the posture, it is the true color of pine and snow." Yuanmei (Wang Shizhen) is called 'G Beihai', zihan (Zhao Kun) is said to be 'losing fat slowly', and so on. Yang Zhenfang's "Narrative of the Tablet" Yun: "The stone is still intact, but at the end of each line in the middle, three or five characters are damaged, and the calligraphy is quite similar to Tang Li Yong." ”
"Jiangdong Xuanwei Makes Shanzhu Gong pull out the Shinto Monument"
Figure 3 "Jiangdong Xuanwei Envoy Shanzhu Gongba Bu Shintō Monument", Qing Tuoben, Beijing Forbidden City Collection
Also known as the Shanzhu Gong monument (Figure 3). Main book, 23 lines, full line 76 words. Yao Sui wrote an article, and Zhao Mengfu wrote a stele and sealed his forehead. Mao Shao's mole engraving. The upper left half of the monument is very damaged, and it is missing for years and months. Because zhao Mengfu signed himself the official title of "Zhongshun Dafu, Yangzhou Road Taizhou Yin and Persuasion of Agriculture" in the inscription, the time of erection of the monument is also between the second year and the third year (1309~1310). The calligraphy of the "Shanzhu Gong monument" is dignified and beautiful, the pen gesture is round and flowing, and it is elegant and elegant in the solemn and regular. Xu Zonghao believes: "The pen used in this stele is similar to the "Record of Miaoyan Temple in Huzhou" and "The Record of Huaiyun Courtyard in Kunshan", which was written in the same year and is a superb work of middle-aged and elderly people. "Now the original stele is in Yizheng, Jiangsu.
"Chongguo Temple Performance Monument"
Figure 4 "Chongguo Temple Performance Monument", Late Ming Dynasty Tuoben, Beijing Forbidden City Collection
The full name is "Dayuan Da Chongguo Temple Buddha Nature Harmony Chongjiao Master Performance Monument" (Figure 4), also known as "Huangqing Yuannian Chongjiao Master Performance Monument" and "Dingyan Dao Xing Stele". Main book, 27 lines, full line 54 words. In March of the first year of the Imperial Qing Dynasty (1312), Zhao Mengfu wrote an edict and wrote a book on Dan and Seal. Wang Hong, Wang Jue carved. The inscription reads: "Specially granted the monument of the Buddha-nature Yuanrong Chongjiao master Hua Yan to pass on the performance of justice." The inscription records the life of the founder of Chongguo Temple, Dingyan Zen Master, and his experience of building the temple when he was given land by the emperor.
Chongguo Temple was named Dalongshan Temple in the fourth year of Ming Xuande (1429), renamed Chong'en Temple in the fourth year of Orthodoxy (1439), and renamed Longshan Huguo Temple in the eighth year of Chenghua (1472), which was repeatedly expanded and became the imperial giant brake of the Ming Dynasty. In the sixty-first year of the Qing Kangxi Dynasty (1721), the Mongol prince Belle rebuilt and expanded the Huguo Temple, and renamed it the Lama Temple of the Dalongshan Huguo Temple. In the late Qing Dynasty, the temple gradually declined, and in the 1930s and 1940s, the hall collapsed, almost into ruins, and only the Maitreya Hall remained. According to Xu Zonghao's records, the original stele was still standing in front of the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas in the Huguo Temple in 1942.
Shaolin Temple Yugong Monument
Figure 5 "Shaolin Temple Yugong Monument", Ming Tuoben, Beijing Forbidden City collection
The full name is "Dayuan Gifts great Sikong Kaifu Yi and the third division posthumously sealed the Monument of the Great Zen Master Yu Gong of the Shaolin Kaishan Guangzong Sect of the Jin Dynasty" (Figure 5). Main book, 37 lines, full line 70 words. Established in November of the first year of Yanyou (1314). Written by Cheng Jufu, Zhao MengfuShu, Guo Guanhuan. Chen Hao Standing Stone, Yelü Desi carved. The inscription records that Emperor Yuanrenzong gave the Shaolin Temple Fuyu Zen Master as "Great Sikong and Kaifu Yi Tongsan Division" in the first year of the first year (1312), posthumously awarded the title of "Duke of Jinguo", and ordered Wen chen to erect a monument for it. Zhao Mengfu was 60 years old at the time, and was deeply respected by Emperor Yuanren in most of the capital.
The calligraphy of this stele is upright, solemn, and rigorous. Zhao Kun's "Graphite Engraving" commented on this stele: "The book of undertaking is not very satisfactory, the circle is familiar, and the posture is insufficient, and it is not as good as the two stele of "Sun Deyu" and "Imperial Dress Praise". "Songyang Stone Carving" Yun: "According to Wen min calligraphy, it is the first of the Yuan Dynasty." This stele enshrines the edict, not to fake the hand, but to feel fat and less windy, Ho Ya. But the pen has its own merits. "The original stele is located in the Shaolin Temple of Songshan Mountain, Henan.
Monument to the Imperial Dress
Figure 6 "Monument to the Imperial Dress of the Imperial Household", Qing Tuoben, Collection of the Forbidden City in Beijing
The full name is "Monument to the Imperial Costume of the Great Yuan" (Figure 6). Main book, 34 lines, full line 81 words. Yuan Yanyou was established in the second year (1315). Written by Zhao Shiyan, Zhao Mengfu Shudan, Li Menghuan. The inscription records the story of Yuan Chengzong, who was inspired by a dream, and ordered that the imperial clothes be hidden in the Wanshou Palace of Zhongnan Mountain. Ming Wang Shizhen commented on this stele: "This book is undertaken, and after middle age, the pen is the most wonderful, and in and out of the North Sea (Li Yong), there are those who are more than their charms, He Ye." Ming Zhao Song believes: "This stele is also graceful, most of them are like the previous stele [referring to the "Sun Deyu Dao Xing Stele", established in the third year of the Yuan Dynasty (1335)], and slightly inferior to its garden. "The original stele is in the Chongyang Palace in Xi'an, Shaanxi.
Yongning Zen Temple Stele
Figure 7 "Yongning Zen Temple Stele", Ming Tuoben, Beijing Forbidden City Collection
In April of the sixth year of Yanyou (1319), Zhao Mengfu wrote a book without a monument. See only one Ming Dynasty Tuoben (Figure 7), which was cut and framed into albums, with 22 and a half open ink sheets, and is now in the Forbidden City in Beijing. There is a passage from Xu Zonghao at the back of the post: "Zhao Wenmin's fair birth stele, I don't know the number." Historically, the catalogues of gold stones and calligraphy and paintings have not been exhaustive. Since the first afternoon (1894), Yu has received it when he sees it, or he cannot receive it, and he will write it beforehand to preserve his traces. It has been sixty years now, and there are more than 400 kinds of income, and only 20 or 30 kinds of ears are well carved. On the twenty-fifth day of the first month, Thejia sold the "Yongning Zen Temple Stele", hooked and carved Shangjing, and the paper and ink of Tuozhi were about in the Ming Dynasty, which was handed over by the Lingshi Yang clan and the Jiading Xu clan, but the cut was confused when loading the pool, and it was not written. And there is no author, no way to verify, it is a pity. Slightly organized and for the inscription. On the second day of the first month of February in 1954, Shi Xue became acquainted with the Guiyun Jingshe at the age of seventy and five. ”
"Monument to Zhang Liusun, Grand Master of the Xuan sect"
Figure 8 Monument of Zhang Liusun, Great Master of Xuanjiao (Northern Taoist Monument), Qing Tuoben, Collection of the Forbidden City in Beijing
The full name is "Dayuan Edict To Kaifu Yi tongsan si shangqing auxiliary Zanhua Baoyun Xuanjiao grand master Zhi Daohongjiao Chong Yuan Renjing Dazhen Zhang Gong Monument" (Figure 8), also known as "Taoist Stele". There are two pieces of this stele: one is in the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, which was erected in the second year of the Celestial Calendar (1329), commonly known as the Northern Taoist Sect or the Northern Monument. The main book is engraved on both sides, 28 lines each, and 60 words in full lines. Zhao Mengfu wrote and wrote, Wu Quanjie Standing Stone, Mao Shaozhi engraved. The other is in The Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, which was erected in the fourth year of the Zheng Dynasty (1344), and is known as the Southern Taoism or the Southern Monument. The inscription is the same as the north stele, engraved on both sides, with 35 lines of stele yang and 25 lines of stele yin, and 75 characters on the full line. Written and written by Zhao Mengfu, Wu Quanjie Standing Stone, Zhang Chun imitation. The southern stele is later than the northern stele, but the inscription is exactly the same, only the standing stone time and the engraver are different, which can show that the southern stele is carved according to the northern stele.
The north and south monuments are both monuments, majestic and tall, with more than 2800 words. In the inscriptions written by Zhao Mengfu, it is rare to have such a long and huge work, so it is highly evaluated by successive generations. Qing Sun Chengze's "Records of Gengzi Pinxia" volume Qiyun: "Yuan Daoist Zhang Liusun, Guanjia Kaifu Yi Tongsan Division, Shangqing." The indiscriminate use of famous instruments can be lamented so far. Zhao Wenmin was enshrined in the Edict, and his stele Feng Wei Xiuba, the most famous giant view, has not been seen since Xu Jihai (Xu Hao) and Li Beihai (Li Yong). Ye Changchi further admired the calligraphy of this stele, saying in the "Yushi": "Ou Bo (Zhao Mengfu) Mo Miao, since the two steles of "Xu Xizai" and "Zhang Liusun" are the right moment. ”
Zhao Mengfu died in June of the second year of the reign of Emperor Yingzong of Yuan (1322), and both stele were erected one or two decades after his death, so there are doubts, and many scholars believe that this stele was not written by Zhao Mengfu. Lu Xinyuan of the Qing Dynasty, Volume 15 of the Yigutang Inscription, believes that the Taoist Stele was ghostwritten by Zhao Yong, the son of Zhao Mengfu. After a large number of studies, the scholar Wang Lianqi further judged that the "Taoist Stele" was not a ghostwriter, but most likely an "impostor" work of the engraver Mao Shaozhi. (See Wang Lianqi, "Examination of the Authenticity of the Taoist Stele" passed down from generation to generation zhao Mengfu, Cultural Relics, June 1983))
Wang Yi, ∣ of Literature, is an associate research librarian of the Department of Ancient Calligraphy and Painting of the Forbidden City in Beijing
Pictured∣ The Forbidden City in Beijing
This article was published in the October issue of "Collections, Reading the World, And Ancient Art"