The epigraphy of epigraphy

Jin Xue is the abbreviation of "epigraphy". Epigraphy began in the Western Han Dynasty (Han people studied ancient Chinese characters, ancient bronzes, arranged bamboo slips and recorded historical sites) and was formed in the Northern Song Dynasty. It was officially named "epigraphy" in Qing Dynasty. Before archaeology was introduced into China, epigraphy preserved many valuable inscriptions and never formed a complete discipline system. Learning with ancient bronzes and stone carvings as the main research objects. Inscriptions, similar to those in Europe, are the forerunners of archaeology in China. The Northern Song Dynasty provided conditions for the spread of epigraphy. Epigraphy gradually took shape. Influenced by the Ganjia School in Qing Dynasty, epigraphy reached its peak. After modern archaeology was introduced into China, epigraphy became an integral part of archaeology.

Liu Chang, who was living in Song Renzong, carved the Monument to Ancient Wares in Pre-Qin Dynasty (lost text), which is a pioneering work in epigraphy. The Archaeological Map written by Lu Dalin has made great achievements in the collation of ancient books. This book is the earliest catalogue of ancient artifacts that has been circulated so far. Later, books on bronzes, such as the Picture of Xuanhe and Bo Gu, manuscripts of Yi language in Zhong Ding in past dynasties, and books on stone carvings, such as Historical Records, Records of Stone Inscriptions and Lishi, appeared, and the research on stone carvings has been quite prosperous. There were not many achievements in epigraphy in Yuan and Ming Dynasties, among which He Shuo's Visit to the Ancient and Gu are the representative works. Gegu Yaolun is an early appreciation book of cultural relics in China.

During the Qianlong period, according to the antiquities collected in the Qing Palace, he compiled the ancient mirrors of the Western Qing Dynasty and other books, which promoted the revival of epigraphy research. Later, there were other books, such as Notes on Kao Gong's Creation, Notes on Yi-ware in Jiguzhai, Zhong Ding, Bronze Inscriptions in Ancient Books, Records of Zhai Gu, Examination of Yi-ware in Zhuiyizhai, Records of Visiting Historic Sites, Collection of Scholars, Gu Quan Club, and Jinshisuo. -the scope of research has been expanded. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, Luo Zhenyu and Wang Guowei were both scholars. Ma Heng wrote "Introduction to China's Epigraphy", which made a comprehensive summary of epigraphy.