Sun Guoting's "Book Book" is a famous work of Chinese calligraphy, with widespread and far-reaching influence. However, in the early Yuan Dynasty, the main text of "Shupu" had disappeared, and only a preface has been handed down. Some people think that this preface is the original text of "Shu Pu", so it has become a habit to refer to "Shu Pu" as the "Preface to Shu Pu". This preface contains a comprehensive argument, a lot of insightful insights, clear writing, and thorough analysis. It is a very valuable theoretical work on calligraphy. In addition, the "Preface to the Book of Music" was written in cursive script by Sun Guoting. The writing style is handsome and straight, and the technique is skillful. It is a masterpiece of cursive script in the early Tang Dynasty. Therefore, it has always been considered that the "Preface to the Book of Music" is a rare work with both text and calligraphy.
The "Preface to Calligraphy" is theoretically rigorous and transparent, tracing the origin of calligraphy and distinguishing the functions and characteristics of various calligraphy styles; discussing brushwork, commenting on the works of ancient famous masters; and elaborating on the experience of calligraphy creation. , reveal the laws of art; analyze the advantages and disadvantages of schools, and warn future students. The content involved is quite extensive and in-depth. It can be said that "Shu Pu Preface" is a systematic and comprehensive summary in theory since the development of various calligraphy styles in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. The article begins with the source of calligraphy, describing the calligraphy achievements of Zhong Yao, Zhang Zhi, Wang Xizhi, and Wang Xianzhi, as well as the inheritance relationship between them. There is an obvious intention to suppress and promote Xi, which is ideologically consistent with the social trend of thought formed by vigorously promoting Wang Xizhi's calligraphy in the early Tang Dynasty.