Zhaoren Temple: Stele

CHINA, Shaanxi, Xianyang; Tang dynasty

This well-preserved stele was erected at Zhaoren Temple in Shaanxi by the order of Emperor Taizong (reigned 626–649) during the Tang dynasty. There are 40 lines of text with 84 characters each. Emperor Taizong, after establishing the new dynasty of Tang, ordered monuments to be built at seven battle sites in honor of those who sacrificed their lives. This stele is one of the two remaining steles, the other is the Dengci Temple Stele.
Marked with grid lines, the form of the stele calligraphy is straight and broad, with strokes that are thin, energetic, and beautiful. The calligraphy of this stele is often compared to the Stele of Confucius Temple, scripted by Yu Shina. Wang Shu of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) remarked on this comparison, “The calligraphic style of the Confucius Temple Stele is handsome and graceful, while the stele calligraphy in Zhaoren Temple is thin and energetic. They may appear identical on the surface, but their individual charm and character could not be more different.” The calligraphy of this particular stele inscription is reflective of the energetic advocacy of aesthetic standards found during the Early Tang period (618–712).