Stele of Zhu Xi's Scripture Transcription

Stele of Zhu Xi's Scripture Transcription

The Stele of Zhu Xi's Scripture Transcription is a cultural relic protected at the Hebei Provincial level.

The Stele of Zhu Xi's Scripture Transcription, also known as the "Zhu Zi Taiji Stone Carving," is located in the Daming County Stone Carving Museum. The original stele was inscribed in the Qiandao Dinghai year (1167) of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was composed by Zhu Xi, calligraphed by him, and engraved by Cai Yuanding in the style of Xingkai script. Originally erected in Changzhou Prefecture, now Changsha City, Hunan Province, it was destroyed in the Yanyou Jiwei year (1319) during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty’s Chenghua period (1465–1487), the Daming Prefecture education intendant Jikinan, based on the “original stele” rubbings handed down from the Southern Song, oversaw the recarving of the “Stele of Zhu Xi's Scripture Transcription.” It was initially embedded in the gable wall of the Minglun Hall of the Daming Prefecture School, and relocated to its current site in 1986. The stele is made of sandy stone, standing 1.8 meters high, 2.9 meters wide, 0.3 meters thick, and weighing 4.2 metric tons, with a base of a richly grooved angular foundation. Recarved and erected by Jikinan in the Ming Dynasty, the stele text excerpts a passage from the Book of Changes (Yi Jing), summarizing the principles of cosmic change. It contains 111 characters, each measuring 16 cm × 13 cm. It is now a key cultural relic protected at the Hebei Provincial level.

Zhu Xi (1130–1200), a philosopher of the Southern Song Dynasty, was the synthesizer of Neo-Confucianism in the Song era. In philosophy, he developed the theories of Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi (the Two Chengs) regarding the relationship between li (principle) and qi (material force), establishing a comprehensive objective idealist system of Neo-Confucian thought, later known as the Cheng-Zhu School. The current stele shows slight weathering and minor cracks, with a small break in the middle right section. Since its recarving, over 50 years have passed, yet the overall inscription still reflects Zhu Xi’s simple yet vigorous calligraphic style, bold and powerful strokes, majestic momentum, and refined charm—holding significant value in both calligraphy and art.

Zhu Xi, courtesy name Yuanhui (later changed to Zhonghui), literary name Huian, also known as Ziyang, was born in Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province, but was born in Youxi, Fujian. His father, Zhu Song, served as the magistrate of Youxi County during the fifth year of the Xuanhe era (1123) of the Song Dynasty. After completing his term, he took up residence in the guesthouse of Zheng Andao in Shuinan, the same county. On September 15 of the fourth year of the Jianyan era (1130), Zhu Xi was born. Zhu Xi was intelligent and studious from a young age. At age 7, he moved with his parents to Jianzhou (now Jian’ou, Fujian). At 14, following his father’s deathbed wish, he went to live with his friends Hu Xian and Liu Mianzhi in Chongan County. Hu and Liu treated Zhu Xi like their own nephew, arranging his life and teaching him earnestly. Liu Mianzhi even married his daughter to Zhu Xi. … More detailed information about Zhu Xi ++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units