The "Shangxia Stele of Zheng Xi" is also called the "Stele of Zheng Wengong". The stone was carved in the fourth year of Yongping in the Northern Wei Dynasty (511). The same content was published in two places, both in Shandong. One is on Tianzhu Mountain in Pingdu County and is called Shangbei. The other is on Yunfeng Mountain in Ye County and is called Xiabei.
The stone carving brushwork of the Northern Wei Dynasty can be roughly divided into three types: round brush, square brush, and combination of square and circle. The stele of Zheng Wengong is a typical representative of the round brush. The calligraphy also has the meaning of seal script and official script. Kang Youwei believed that this stele was the ancestor of the Northern Wei Dynasty's round pen.
The calligrapher of this stele, Zheng Daozhao, also known as Xi Bo, was a famous calligrapher in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Calls himself Mr. Zhongyue. A native of Xingyang (now part of Henan). Guan Guozi Jijiu, Guangzhou Governor, Qingzhou Governor, later became Secretary Supervisor, and was given the posthumous title Wengong. History calls him "few but eager to learn and well-read". In addition to Zheng Wengong, the calligraphy and stone inscriptions include "Poems on Classical Books", "Poems of Guanhai Tong", "Taiji Mountain Poetry Stele", etc.
The "Stele of Zheng Wengong" was written and engraved by Zheng Daozhao in order to highlight his father's "political virtues" and meet with colleagues from his father's generation to describe the "noble virtues" of his father Zheng Xi's life. This monument is also Zheng Daozhao's calligraphy masterpiece. Bao Shenbo said in "Yizhou Shuangji" that "the northern stele style has many side characters, and the characters of "Zheng Wengong Stele" are unique, and the seal script, rhyme and grass emotion are complete." Kang Youwei believes that "Zheng Wengong Stele" is different from "Zheng Wengong Stele". "Zhang Menglong Monument" is "the ultimate standard of Li Kai". The calligraphy on this stele is mostly round, with sinews and bones included, giving it a vaguely square meaning. The frame is open, and the ups and downs are all implemented, giving people the impression of strong courage, solemn atmosphere, strange mood, and flying spirit.
In addition, the "Stele of Zheng Wengong" was carved on granite. Because the stone is hard, the handwriting is well preserved. This also enables chisel carving to better convey the meaning of the calligraphy, and the calligraphy and carving complement each other, which injects the beauty of nature into "Zheng Wengong Stele".