Relatively speaking, although stone inscriptions have the same disadvantages, especially the inscriptions, many of them were carved on the stone according to the words written by others, and some were copied by later generations, but most of them were carved at that time or soon after. So epigraphy is usually more primitive than literature. More importantly, the recorder usually does not intentionally change the manuscript, and of course, it cannot rule out the phenomenon of mistaken engraving. Moreover, epigraphy is difficult to modify, unless the original engraving is completely worn off and then completely re-engraved, it will remain the same. It is difficult to remove the words on metal objects, either melting and recasting or corroding with time, so it is quite difficult to wear them manually, especially in ancient times. Because of this, although the number of inscriptions handed down so far is far less than that of documents, their historical value is immeasurable.
There is no doubt that many historical records have been omitted or submerged in the literature that has been passed down to this day. The biggest deficiency of ancient literature is that it pays too little attention to the life of the general public. Even if there are some scattered records, they will only appear under special circumstances. Generally speaking, the historical materials about society, religion, women, culture, customs and other aspects in handed down literature are particularly lacking, especially the ordinary people and ordinary things in the past dynasties, and there are few historical records. For example, there are a large number of biographies in ancient documents, especially in official history books, both biographies and chronologies. Among them, biographies are specially set up, but these characters are carefully selected. There are many tombstones, epitaphs and poems in a large number of private works, especially in the books of past dynasties, which are undoubtedly indispensable and important materials for studying history. The problem is that it is difficult for people in history to leave traces in the literature. As we all know, to some extent, the history of China is a history of emperors and princes, and the life track of ordinary people is little known.
On the contrary, there are many characters in the inscription that are hard to see in Shicheng. These people may not be famous, but they have created their own history, and it is the lives of these individuals that constitute rich and colorful historical connotations. Yi Cong, a mage, is a very ordinary monk. His life story cannot be included in the Buddhist history books such as biographies of eminent monks, and he is not qualified to be written into the official history with emperors and generals as the main body. After his death, in order to get the protection of the gods, others built a classic building for him, and his life experience was briefly reproduced. Obviously, Yi Cong has nothing to boast about, and there is no glorious course to speak of. But as an ordinary monk, he diligently studied Buddhist scriptures and tirelessly explained the contents of the scriptures. His plain life may be the epitome of many monks in the society at that time. It was because of these people's activities that ancient society was full of vitality. Therefore, many precious materials that can't be seen in history books are intentionally or unintentionally displayed in inscriptions and stone carvings, which is of great value to make up for the shortcomings of history. To be sure, many stone carving documents have never been published in historical records, involving laws, decrees, literati's poems and so on. These can be found in stone carvings, and a large part of them are the only rare historical materials handed down. There is no doubt that these materials are irreplaceable by other types of historical materials and can completely make up for the shortcomings of existing documents.
It is worth noting that many stone carving documents are also preserved in the existing documents, but this phenomenon does not mean that the stone carving documents have lost their historical value. Historians can verify each other with epigraphy and ancient books, and then restore their true colors and provide more accurate historical materials for historical research. As we all know, the vast majority of ancient books were printed by later generations. As far as ancient China is concerned, the quality of books published in Song and Yuan Dynasties is good, but the quantity is very small, and there are only a handful of printed woodcuts before Song Dynasty. However, the historical materials of stone carvings before the Yuan Dynasty are very rich, and the number far exceeds that of books and other documents. Except for a small number of inscriptions by later generations, most of these words were engraved in past dynasties. Obviously, in terms of preservation time, metals and stone tablets are usually much longer than books, thus retaining the true state of history at that time more truly.
Generally speaking, the records of ancient books are not engraved by the parties themselves, but often edited and modified by later generations, which is unlikely to be completely accurate. On the contrary, epigraphy is usually published by people with different purposes, or to show off their fame, or to expand their influence, or out of a certain belief, and so on. Soon after it was carved in stone, the author wrote that it was more primitive than books. It is worth noting that even in the same words, the historical materials of epigraphy will provide more abundant and informative information than ordinary books, such as some information of many inscriptions, engravers, engravers and their related personnel, which is precious and rare historical materials.
In a word, the stone inscriptions in the past dynasties are one of the most important historical materials, and many of them are completely absent from the documents preserved so far. These precious materials are irreplaceable by other types of historical materials and can completely make up for the defects of existing documents. At the same time, the historical materials of epigraphy and historical records can be mutually verified, so that they can be restored to their original colors, which can not only correct some mistakes in existing documents, but also collate epigraphy with documents, provide more reliable and accurate historical materials for historical research, and further deepen the understanding and understanding of history.
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(1) Yicong's deeds are recorded in Volume 82 of Eight Qiong Shi Ming, and Fuzi Yicong respects Saint Zhuang Ji, saying, "Fuzi is afraid of Yicong, who is from Guancheng, Zhengzhou. He became a monk at a young age. /kloc-studied for Fan Dade in longxing temple Stone Buddha Academy in this county in October/February,/kloc-became a monk in 0/6, and/kloc-became a monk in 0/7. Since then, he has resigned as a teacher in various places. Learn classics, don't give up day and night. By the 23rd of the year, I had talked about the Hundred Methods for nearly twenty times, and then I talked about the Maitreya Bible for more than thirty times. I am willing to win goodwill and respect. In the middle of the Holy Festival, I was invited by Yu Baoji to give a lecture on Hundred Laws and Business Life at Lianying Palace for no less than 15 times. Ordinary people are sixty-three and monks are forty-six. Ming Dow died in Baoying Room on the 29th day of the first month of the second year. There are nearly twenty people studying Buddhism, so it is impossible to remember their names. In May of that year, this building was completed, teaching the theory of Confucian classics and preaching the precepts of Mahayana. My colleague is willing to give Zishamen a letter on virtue and politics. "
Epigraphy, epigraphy, epigraphy