A Model of the Yi Ying Stele (臨 《乙瑛碑》)
66 X 32cm (11)
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A Model of the Yi Ying Stele (臨《乙瑛碑》)
66 X 32cm (11) in Clerical Script (隸書)
Remarks
(I)
The Yi Ying Stele (《乙瑛碑》) was erected in 153AD during the Eastern Han Dynasty (1) to document the placement of an officer to oversee a Confucius Temple (2). Its calligraphy is often regarded as the best exemplar of the Han clerical script (3), holding qualities of propriety, elegance, and lively variations all at the same time (4). Thus, some consider it a grand masterpiece that all calligraphers should study (5).
(II)
The text of the Yi Ying Stele also serves as an important historical document. First, it confirms Wu Xiong (吳雄) was the Chancellor (司徒) while Zhao Jie (趙戒) was the Imperial Counsellor (司空) around 153AD, as chronicled in the Book of the Later Han (《後漢書》) (6). Second, it narrates an individual called Yi Yin (乙瑛) as the Ministerial Governor of Lu (魯相) (7), which is not recorded in the Book of the Later Han (8). Third, it provides direct evidence that the Eastern Han highly regarded Confucius and enshrined Confucianism (9). As such, the Yi Ying Stele is an important relic for those interested in Eastern Han history and calligraphy.
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(1) 劉正成,《中國書法鑒賞大辭典》. Beijing : 大地出版社, 1989, p.95.
(2) 洪适, 《隸釋隸續》. Beijing: 中華書局, 1985, pp.18-19.
(3) 方朔云: “(乙瑛碑) 漢隸最可師法者.” As in foonote (1).
(4) “(乙瑛碑) 端莊勻實, 體態動人, 輕重變化, 頗多妙趣, 形態飛動遒勁, 表露了渾融瀟逸的韻味”. As in foonote (1).
(5) “(乙瑛碑) 屬于東漢刻石的巨制, 亦是今天學習隷書的優良範本”. As in footnote (1).
(6) 范曄,《後漢書》, Vol.7, 孝桓帝紀. Hong Kong:中華書局, 1971, pp.297-298; 歐陽修,《集古錄》, Vol.2. 欽定四庫全書史部十四集古錄, 乾隆四十六年版, p.4a.
(7) "相" here is not "Prime Minister". Instead, it refers to "Ministerial Governor (侯國之相)", which held roughly the same administrative authority as a Governor (太守). See 班固,《漢書》, Vol.9, 元帝紀. Hong Kong: 中華書局, 1970, p.283; 范曄,《後漢書》, 百官志, 5. As in footnote (6), pp.3621-3622.
(8) As in footnote (6).
(9) Ibid..