Galleries and Translations > Recent Works / Models of Masterpieces > A Model of the Han Ren Stele (臨《韓仁銘》)
A Model of the Han Ren Stele (臨《韓仁銘》)
66 X 32cm (7)
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A Model of the Han Ren Stele (臨《韓仁銘》)
66 X 33cm (7) in Clerical Script (隸書)
Remarks
(I)
The Han Ren Stele was installed during the Han Dynasty in 175 AD (1) to pay tribute to the virtuous and just Han Ren (韓仁), a magistrate of Wenxi (聞憙) (2). The stele was unearthed in the Xingyang county of Henan (河南滎陽縣) in 1228 AD (3).
(II)
While many characters in the stele are damaged or missing, the work remains a Classical Chinese Calligraphy Masterpiece (法書). Kang Youwei (康有為, 1858-1927 AD) described its clerical script as “unhindered and elegant (疏秀)”, while Yang Shoujing (楊守敬, 1839-1915 AD) characterized it as “sturdy (清勁)” and “without a single stroke of vulgarity (無一筆塵俗氣)” (4). As such, the Han Ren Stele is unquestionably an exemplar of Chinese calligraphy, in addition to its significant value in the study of Han history.
(III)
Although Han Ren was highly regarded during his times, his name never appeared in any official history book (正史). Scholar Li Xianneng (李獻能, 1190–1232 AD) thus concluded:
"韓君之名，不見于史，則知班、范所載，遺逸者尚多."(5)"Sir Han’s name did not appear in the history books, which indicated Ban (Ban Gu, 班固, author of the official history book, Book of Han) and Fan (Fan Ye, 范曄, author of the official history book Later Book of Han) left out many extraordinary historical figures."(translated by KS Vincent Poon)
Chao Pingwen (趙秉文, 1159AD-1232 AD) further added:
"然自古賢達，埋光鏟採，堙滅無聞，亦何可勝數?"(6)"Alas, the many distinguished names of the distant past that have been buried, reduced, extinguished, or unheard of, how can we possibly count them all?"(translated by KS Vincent Poon)
As such, why should one persist to be remembered by history?
KS Vincent Poon, May 2025
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(1) 翁方綱, 《兩漢金石記》Vol.12. 南昌使院, 1789, publication place unknown, p.14.
(2) The stele text described Han Ren as an officer who “administered with propriety, applied the laws properly, and gave orders fittingly (經國以禮, 刑政得中. translated by KS Vincent Poon)”. Ibid..
(3) 劉正成, 《中國書法鑒賞大辭典》. Beijing: 大地出版社, 1989, p.112.
(4) Ibid..
(5) As in footnote (1), p.15.
(6) Ibid..