Stone Rubbings

Stone Rubbings

　　The Xi'an Stele Forest is China's oldest and largest stone library, housing representative works by renowned calligraphers such as Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Ouyang Xun, Ouyang Tong, Chu Suiliang, Huai Su, and Zhang Xu. Renowned both at home and abroad for its collection of exquisite stone inscriptions, it is highly favored by visitors from around the world. The museum’s collection includes over 2,300 steles and tablets from the Han, Wei, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, making it a treasure trove of China’s most famous calligraphic steles. Among them, the “Yan Clan Ancestral Hall Stele,” the “Xuanmi Pagoda Stele,” and the “Tang Huangfu Dan Stele” are widely recognized as masterpieces of the Yan, Liu, and Ouyang scripts. There are also rare calligraphic gems such as Emperor Huizong of Song’s unique “Slender Gold Script” and the “Great Tang Tripitaka Preface Stele,” which is composed entirely of Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy. Works by other great calligraphers such as Huang Tingjian and Su Shi of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan Dynasty, and Huang Qichang of the Ming Dynasty are also preserved here. The Xi'an Stele Forest Museum has produced a limited number of original rubbings of some famous steles, and has also replicated a number of steles based on originals to create larger quantities of rubbings for sale to calligraphers, enthusiasts, and tourists. Currently available stone rubbings include Yan Zhenqing’s “Tang Many Treasures Pagoda Inspirational Stele,” Liu Gongquan’s “Tang Xuanmi Pagoda Stele,” as well as reproductions of works by master calligraphers like Chu Suiliang and Ouyang Xun. In addition to individual sheets, the rubbings are also mounted into albums, making them ideal for both personal collection and as thoughtful gifts for family and friends.