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Tang Huairen's Preface to Wang Xizhi (hereinafter referred to as the Preface to Wang Xizhi) consists of Preface to Tang Sanzang, Answering Xuanzang's Book, Three Books of Prince Li Zhi, Xuanzang's Book and Xuanzang's translation of Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra.
Huairen, a monk in Hongfu Temple, spent many years in the Tang Dynasty, carefully collecting the calligraphy records of the right army, compiling them into chapters and sentences, and printing them on stone carvings. This is not only an important relic of Buddhist historical records in the Tang Dynasty, but also a masterpiece in the history of Chinese calligraphy. According to the records of relevant researchers, the existing stone in Xi 'an stele forest is 235 cm high, 98 cm wide at the top and 1 14 cm wide at the bottom.
The running script has 30 lines, ranging from 83 to 88 characters. Besides writing and collecting characters, there are also carved stones by Yu Zhining, Lai Ji, Xu, Xue Zhichao, Li Yifu, Zhuge Shen and Zhu. It was also recorded, and the publication date was Xianheng 3rd year (672)1February 8th. But whether it is the first carved original stone has been questioned and discussed by Ruan Yuan in Qing Dynasty (1764- 1849) and even by contemporary researchers.
In recent years, Professor Rong Xinjiang of Peking University, from the unique perspective of political history in the early Tang Dynasty, combed the predecessors' theories and researched relevant historical materials, and proposed that the first publication time of this anthology should be between the second year of Tang Linde (665) and the second year of Xianheng (67 1), engraved on the back of the original stone of the Diamond Sutra written by Helanmin, a powerful minister at that time. However, the stones in the existing Xi 'an stele forest are probably based on it.
Brief introduction of the author
Wang Xizhi (AD 303 ~ 36 1) was born in Linyi (now lanshan district, Linyi City, Shandong Province) and moved to Huiji Yin Shan (now Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province) in his childhood. Li Guan jiangzhou secretariat, general of the right army, and will take the secretariat. Known as the "book saint."
Wang Xizhi, a beginner in calligraphy, traveled to famous mountains after crossing the river to the north, and saw traces of calligraphy such as Lisi, Cao, Zhong You, Liang You and Cai Yong successively, so he changed his teachers, cursive writers Zhang Zhi and Zhong You, and got a secret. Then he added the ancient method, changed the simple style of Han and Wei calligraphy, and created a beautiful and convenient modern style, which is true, solid and careless.
First, Liang Wudi commented on his book cloud: "The words in the book" Xi "are bold and free, such as the sky in Yue Long and the tiger lying in the phoenix, so they have been treasured from generation to generation and always thought they were training." Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, said, "Only Wang Yi has made a detailed study of ancient and modern times and made a thorough study of the fine elements of seal cutting! Looking at the slow work and the fine work, it was beautifully cut and the haze was exposed. If it is broken, it will be connected, and the phoenix will be like a dragon. If you are inclined, you will get tired of playing. You don't know its end, but you are chasing it with your heart. This man is just the rest. What's the point? "
Because of the emperor's love and advocacy, as well as the echo of ministers, and because of his charming and beautiful calligraphy style of "vigorous and peaceful, without agitation and arrogance, away from rules", it has indeed been respected by future generations, and has been regarded as a "book saint" for thousands of years, and has been regarded as a standard by calligraphy circles, which is reasonable and comfortable.