Characters - Famous Taibai Mountain

CHINA; Southern Song dynasty

According to Tiantong Temple Chronicles, the Junior Chancellor, Shi Hao requested Emperor Xiaozong (reigned 1162–1189) of the Song dynasty to script a piece of calligraphy as a gift to Jingde Temple. The four characters read “Famous Taibai Mountain.” As Taibai Mountain was renowned for its Chan school temples, the mountain name was chosen by the emperor as the subject characters for this stele.
Emperor Xiaozong’s regular script calligraphy is elegant and resembles that of his predecessor’s, Emperor Gaozong (reigned 1127–1162). However, the four characters of this stele were written in running script with round, thick strokes, appearing angular and solid. It brings to mind Yan Zhenqing’s steles, but retains its own character and style.
The rubbing was transferred and carved onto stone by the temple abbot, Liaopu. An inscription by Liaopu at the bottom acknowledges that the characters were “written with an imperial brush.” The rubbing of the stele was brought to Japan from China by National Master Shoichi, and is currently kept at Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto. It is listed as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.