Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322) and the Stele Calligraphy of Song and Yuan Dynasty
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Hsu, Che-Ying
Abstract
Lived across Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) and Mongol Yuan period (1260-1368), the great master calligrapher Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322) was skilled in all scripts and left a considerable amount of works. Zhao’s calligraphy has attracted many studies, but most of them are concerned with inks on paper, especially cursive script. Steles in standard script and rubbings are usually neglected. That is not only the case of Zhao Mengfu but the general situation in the field of Song and Yuan calligraphy, thus the research necessary. This is a comprehensive study of Zhao’s stele calligraphy, analyzing for whom he wrote, with whom he cooperated, and where his steles were erected. The problem of dating and authentication, which corresponds to previous questions, is also treated in this thesis. As for the influence of Zhao’s stele calligraphy, Li Yong (678-747), the Tang calligrapher who excelled at both composition and calligraphy of steles, might be viewed as the model revived by Zhao in Yuan dynasty. Also, Zhao’ steles came into vogue almost immediately. Each stages of his stele calligraphy in fact had respective impact on different regions. In addition, steles engraved by the carver Mao Shaozhi (active c. 1308-1343) also played an important role in the circulation of Zhao’s calligraphy. Through this research, the usually underestimated Southern Song stone inscriptions are found to be part of the heritage from which Zhao’s stele calligraphy is derived. They also constitute a sharp contrast to steles booming in Mongol Yuan period. Although Zhao Mengfu was the leading calligrapher of his time, his influence on steles was still constrained by region, as demonstrated by the example of the Canonizing Confucius Stele decreed in 1307 and erected nationally. In short, the stele calligraphy in Mongol Yuan period is another summit after the peak of Tang dynasty (618-907).
Subjects
Zhao Mengfu
stele calligraphy
Southern Song
Mongol Yuan
Canonizing Confucius Stele
Type
thesis
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