"Huairen Ji Wang Shu Shengjiao Preface", Tang Xianheng three years (672) inscribed in December. Taizong Li Shimin wrote the preface, Gaozong Li Zhi wrote the narrative, Huairen compiled the book of Jin Wang Xizhi, Zhuge Shenli pressed the stone, and Zhu Jingzang engraved the calligraphy. The stele was originally located at Hongfu Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, and is now in the Stele Forest in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Running script, thirty lines, varying number of lines. There are seven Buddha statues engraved on the forehead.
Huairen, a monk in the Tang Dynasty, whose birth and death are unknown, lived in Hongfu Temple in Chang'an during the reign of Emperor Taizong. He collected Wang Xizhi's books and wrote the "Preface to the Holy Religion", which was praised by later generations. "Huairen Collection of Wang Xizhi's Calligraphy Preface" is a reflection of the Tang people's respect for Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. It is also the most successful and influential among the many collections of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy inscriptions. Wang Xizhi's calligraphy was passed down through this, and later generations rushed to learn from it. There is a "Preface to the Tripitaka of the Tang Dynasty" in the Forest of Steles in Xi'an. Its inscription is the same as the "Preface to the Tripitaka of the Tang Dynasty" under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Daci'en Temple. It was written by Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. However, people regard it as It's called "Qianjin Tie". Why is this?
According to legend, Master Xuanzang, the founder of the Faxiang Sect of Chinese Buddhism, went to Tianzhu to seek Buddhist scriptures in the third year of Zhenguan. He traveled through sixteen countries in the Western Regions and collected 657 Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures before setting off to return to China. In the 19th year of Zhenguan, he arrived in Chang'an and was ordered to translate scriptures at Hongfu Temple in Chang'an. Xuanzang wrote to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to write a preface to all the scriptures, and Emperor Taizong readily agreed. The preface was written in the 22nd year of Zhenguan, and the narrative was written by Prince Li Zhi. Xuanzang and the Buddhists believed that this "preface" was the most authoritative "Dharma-protecting treasure", so they carved it on stele stones to preserve it forever. Xuanzang first asked Chu Suiliang, a famous calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, to write it in regular script, carve it on a stone, and place it under his own sutra collection, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is why it is known as the "Sacred Preface to the Wild Goose Pagoda".
At the same time, the monk of Hongfu Temple had a more ambitious intention to engrave a monument. He (monk Huairen) went to the temple to face the king and said: "In order to make the preface written by your majesty immortal in the world, The monk will invite a calligraphy sage to copy the preface. I wonder what the sage’s intention is? ”
“Cao sage Wang Xizhi”
"Hahaha!" Taizong Longyan was overjoyed, "I have always loved the elegance of Master Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. If I could make the former emperor come down from the sky to write inscriptions, I would worship him as my teacher. It's a pity that this is just a dream in the daytime!" "
Monk Huairen said solemnly: "It's not a dream! I think about it, as long as the Holy One issues a decree and orders the world to collect Wang Xizhi's ink marks, and orders the ministers and monks to identify and select them, I'm still afraid. Isn’t the inscription ready?”
Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was delighted when he heard this and approved Huairen’s composition. He appointed Huairen as the Zen master in charge of calligraphy and engraving, specializing in calligraphy, selection, collection and engraving. Monument matter. After receiving the order, Huairen left happily.
So Huairen began this time-consuming, labor-intensive and arduous "project". Sometimes he learned that someone possessed Wang Xizhi's ink. No matter how far the journey was, he would immediately come to ask for a loan. Some of the holders of Wang Xizhi's ink were greedy for money, so he paid a lot of money to buy them. He was not afraid of tiredness, sifting through the collection of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy from a large number of collected ink, which damaged his health and did not hesitate to spend a lot of money. This is because Huairen himself is also a calligrapher and a lover of Wang Xizhi's cursive calligraphy. His collection of calligraphy and engraving on tablets was not entirely to cater to Emperor Taizong's preferences, but he was devoted to it as a calligraphy career. From the time Taizong wrote the preface in the 22nd year of Zhenguan to the third year of Xianheng, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, Monk Huairen worked for twenty-four years before completing the task of collecting calligraphy and engraving the stele. Because in the process of collecting characters, in order to make up for the missing characters, huge sums of money were spent all over the country to purchase them. Therefore, there is a legend in history that one character of Wang Xi is worth a thousand gold. The famous monument also won the reputation of "Qianjin Tie". And because there are seven Buddha images carved horizontally under the forehead of the stele, it is also called the "Seven Buddhas Holy Religion Stele" among the people.
This "Thousand Gold Tie" compiled by Huairen - "The Preface to the Tripitaka of the Tang Dynasty" records Master Xuanzang's historical achievements in studying scriptures from Tianzhu and prospering Sino-Indian cultural exchanges with the unique style of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. . This precious monument is also one of the best evidences that the Silk Road connected China and South Asia.