Shanhaiguan: Who wrote the plaque of the first pass in the world?

This world-famous giant plaque. It's about 6 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, and it's written in five Chinese characters: "The first pass in the world". Its dignified brushwork, vigorous character and magnificent momentum can be seen at a glance, which should be attributed to a calligrapher. However, except for five big characters, there is no signature left on the plaque, which makes people feel a little sorry and puzzled. There are roughly four theories about the author of this huge plaque. One was written by Xiao Xian, a scholar in Chenghua eight years in Ming Dynasty and a native of Shanhaiguan. This theory can be found in Linyi County Annals, which was compiled by Guangxu in Qing Dynasty for four years. However, the word "legend" is added in front of the relevant records in the book, which is not sure. However, in local folklore, the story about Xiao Xian's tablet carving is vivid. It is said that after spending a lot of money, he asked someone to hang the giant monument on the tower. When he looked at it, he found that the word "Xia" was missing. What should I do? Just then, the onlookers grabbed a piece of linen, kneaded it into a ball, dipped it in ink, and threw it up, just hitting the point, making the plaque more imposing. I think this is interesting, but whether a scholar can have such accurate eyesight and extraordinary arm strength can only be exaggerated and romantic in people's imagination. The second theory was written by Yan Song, a university student in Wuyingge during Jiajing period of Ming Dynasty. This theory can be found in Guan Yu's History of Anti-Japanese War published by 1933. There is a plaque inscribed by Yan Song in the Ming Dynasty, each word 1.7 meters square, which has been hidden in Kuixing Building in the southeast corner of Guancheng. When the Japanese invaded Shanhaiguan, they plundered it to Tokyo and put it on public display. Judging from the old photos taken that year, the word "No" on the plaque was written "Bamboo". But the word "no" on the existing plaque in Shanhaiguan clearly says "grass" Inferred from this, it is likely that there are two original giant plaques inscribed by Xiao Xian and Yan Song respectively. However, some people searched all kinds of local chronicles of Ming and Qing Dynasties, but there was no record of Yan Song. Perhaps, because Yan Song is a notorious traitor, Shanhaiguan people who have been loyal to the country for generations have kept all this secret and avoided talking about it? In addition, there are two legends written by Yu Yiyuan and Tan Congjian from Shanhaiguan in Qing Dynasty. However, these two statements are not credible, because as early as the middle of the Ming Dynasty, it was clearly recorded in the Records of Yongping Mansion that there was a huge plaque on Shanhaiguan that was "the first pass in the world". Therefore, even if Yu and Tan wrote a plaque, they could only copy it according to the ink left by their predecessors. According to legend, more than 500 years ago, Emperor Chenghua personally decreed that a large plaque of "the first pass in the world" should be hung on the gate of Shanhaiguan. At that time, Shanhaiguan was guarded by a director of the Ministry of War (equivalent to the director of the Ministry of National Defense). After receiving the imperial edict, he immediately sent someone to the watchtower, measured it, and asked the carpenter to make a huge plaque 10 feet long and 5 feet wide. The plaque is finished. Who can I ask to write it? The head of the Ministry of War discussed with his men for a day and a night, and finally remembered someone. This man, surnamed Xiao Mingxian, was born as a scholar in two lists. He worked as a supervisor in Fujian, and his calligraphy is very good. In recent years, due to old age, he resigned and returned to Shanhaiguan for leisure. The next morning, Minister of War personally went to Xiao's house to explain his purpose. Xiaoxian hesitated for a long time before agreeing. However, he suggested that you should not rush to write such words, so the director of the Ministry of War had to agree. In a blink of an eye, more than twenty days have passed without any news. The head of the Ministry of War asked his men to prepare a few things: some silks and satins, some big lake pens, and sent a confidant to see Xiao Xian. Not long after, the instructor came back and reported, "Mr. Xiao is practicing in the yard and playing long poles in the yard every morning." The Ministry of War is puzzled. What is the relationship between playing with a pole and writing? No matter how many days he has waited, he'd better wait. After more than twenty days, nothing happened. Master of the Ministry of War also asked the servants to prepare some excellent Hui ink and rice paper, and sent cronies to Xiao's house with things. When the teacher came back, he reported: "Old Mr. Xiao was in the room, reciting what flew down thousands of feet, what suspected that the Milky Way had set for nine days ... what made her start to vent her anger like a thunderbolt, just like the green light of rivers and oceans. ..... ""What did he say when he saw the gift? " "He said he could write it in a month." Master of the Ministry of War doesn't quite understand this, but there is a deadline at last, so just wait. Unexpectedly, the master of the Ministry of War received an urgent letter from the Ministry of War the next day, saying that the new acting emperor of Jilin and Liao would come to Shanhaiguan to inspect the plaque and was expected to arrive three days later. This worried the master of the Ministry of War, and immediately had the wooden tablet and a jar of ink carried to Xiao's house. When I arrived at Xiao's home, after greeting, I told Xiaoxian the urgent news of the Ministry of War. Xiaoxian is also a person who came down from the officialdom, so he didn't neglect it and acted immediately. I saw him, pen in hand, walking back and forth in front of the plaque, studying, nodding and laughing; Suddenly, he stopped, held his breath and began to write. I saw him, writing like a falling stone, writing like a swallow, fast, slow, steady and accurate, and carrying a pen with him. In a short time, I wrote the five characters "The First Pass in the World". Look at Xiaoxian again, all sweaty and flushed. The head of the Ministry of War is busy giving thanks. Xiaoxian said: "I wanted to spend a month reading ancient poems to cultivate sentiment, but unfortunately time was too tight." The head of the Ministry of War quickly said: "This is already very good, it is already very good." The next morning, the director of the Ministry of War ordered people to hang a large plaque on the watchtower, and at the same time hosted Xiaoxian in the "Yuexinzhai" restaurant under the watchtower. After three rounds of wine, the two sides looked up at the railing, and Xiaoxian found that the word "Xia" was a little less. At this time, the general manager reported that the governor of Hebei and Liao had crossed the Shihe River, and it was too late to go back to the office and take a pen upstairs to make up for it. What should I do? Xiaoxian used his quick wits to order extremely to grind ink immediately, grabbed a tablecloth in the waiter's hand, dipped it in ink, and threw it at the plaque on the arrow building with all his strength. Just listen to the sound of "beep", and the ink cloth just falls on the lower right corner of the word "Xia", making up a "point". Everyone cheered and praised in unison: "Xiao Gong's pen from God, the pen from God!" This is a plaque written by Xiao Xian, which is now in Shanhaiguan Building. What hangs on the rostrum are all later imitations. This is a legend about Xiao Xian's writing of the "First Pass in the World" male plaque, which has added many elements of folk deduction and can only be heard as a story.