When I saw Mr. Lin Sanzhi's copy of "Zhang Qian Stele", I was looking for a book and found that I had a copybook I bought in my early years. "After the "Preface to the Holy Religion of the Wild Goose Pagoda", "Shuchun Hall" and "Dengba Stele", I started writing it on February 11th and completed it on February 25th.
"Zhang Qian Monument", the full name is "Ode to Zhang Jun, the Changyin Order of the Ancient Valley City of the Han Dynasty". Also known as "Ode to Zhang Qian". The monument is 290 cm high and 107 cm wide. It was established in the third year of Zhongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (186 AD). Existing in Tai'an Dai Temple, Shandong Province. The inscription records the achievements of Zhang Qian and his ancestors Zhang Zhong, Zhang Liang, Zhang Shi and Zhang Qian, and involves the relevant plot of the Yellow Turban Rebel Army, which has high historical value. "Zhang Qian Stele" is simple, honest and powerful, and can be regarded as a representative work of this style among Han dynasty steles. The pens used in this stele are mainly square, and many of the strokes are sharp and angular. The thickness contrast between the strokes is not strong, but the strokes are full and there is less white space in the characters. The sense of thickness and volume is particularly obvious compared with other Han dynasty stele. The space occupied by each character is also relatively symmetrical, and complex changes are reflected within the strokes. The structure of this stele is mainly flat and square, with a unique character structure.
Li Ruiqing, a modern calligrapher, believes that the "Zhang Qian Stele" inherits the calligraphy style of the Western Zhou Dynasty's "Yu Ding". It is flat, solemn and simple, and is close to regular script. It opened the door to the Northern Wei Dynasty's "Zhang Menglong Stele" and "Longmen Twenty" "Pin" all the way calligraphy. Some people also believe that "the stone carvings and statues in the Northern Wei Dynasty, such as the "Stele of Zheng Wengong" and "The Statue of Shi Pinggong", are all directly related to it."
The brushwork used in "Zhang Qian Stele" sometimes has clear waves, and sometimes the corners are folded, as if there is no emphasis on brushwork at all. In this regard, what Qing Wanjing said makes sense. He said: "Yu Wan's calligraphy is quite good, but it is a pity that his hand is not good at copying, and he has no writing skills at all. It is particularly unbearable." The "copying hand is not good at" should also include poor carving. Many Wei stele squares and folds are Caused by this reason.