Longmen Grottoes: Yique Buddha Niche Inscription

CHINA, Henan, Luoyang; Tang dynasty

The text of this stele, inscribed within Binyang Grottoes at the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, was composed by Cen Wen and written by Chu Suiliang. The title reads “Stele of the Yique Buddha Niche,” in which “Yique” refers to Longmenshan (Dragon Gate Mountain). The stele measures 252 cm high by 154 cm wide and consists of 33 lines with 50 characters each. Described within the text is the construction of the grottoes by Prince Wei, the fourth son of Emperor Taizong (reigned 626–649) of the Tang dynasty, to accumulate blessings for his deceased mother, Empress Wende. Numerous rubbings of the stele were made since the Song dynasty (960–1279).
The stele is at present beyond recognition. However, rubbingzs reveal forceful brushstrokes and characters that are angular, straight, and executed with a touch of clerical script. This differs from Chu’s rounded and smooth style in his later work, Preface to Sagely Teachings at Dayan Pagoda. The evolution of Chu’s writing style over time can be seen in this particular piece, which is considered one of his masterpieces.
Chu Suiliang, also known as Dengshan, was a calligrapher of the Tang dynasty. Skilled in regular script, Chu was considered one of the Four Great Calligraphers of the Early Tang period (618–712), along with Ouyang Xun, Yu Shinan, and Xue Ji.