Fragmentary Xixia Script Stele

Fragmentary Xixia Script Stele

The Fragmentary Xixia Script Stele is a cultural tourism attraction.

Measuring 22.5 cm in height and 27 cm in width, it was unearthed in 1974 at the Xixia Tombs site in Yinchuan, Ningxia, and is now housed in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum.

This fragment is one of the larger and more text-rich Xixia script stelae excavated from the Xixia Tombs. Carved from sandstone with incised regular script in intaglio, the strokes are well-proportioned, forceful, and weighty, making it a rare treasure of Xixia calligraphy.

Xixia script characters are mostly in neat regular script, likely drawing inspiration from the mature regular script style of the Tang Dynasty. Judging by the writing rules of Xixia regular script, Xixia characters, like Chinese characters, also possess a dignified and serene quality. The Song Dynasty scholar Jiang Kui once said: “Regular script often uses breaks, while cursive script often uses turns. Breaks should pause briefly—pausing gives strength; turns should flow smoothly—hesitation leads to weakness. Yet regular script relies on turns to achieve fluidity, and cursive script relies on breaks to gain strength; this is essential to understand.” Precisely for this reason, Xixia script often gives an impression of dignity and serenity—not only are the characters square and well-balanced, but they are also graceful and light. In terms of brushwork technique, Xixia regular script also employs both hidden and exposed strokes, combining angular and rounded forms, showcasing both its structural strength and its spirit.

Source: Yinchuan Municipal Government Portal Website

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