Xingfu Temple: Stele

CHINA, Shaanxi, Xi’an; Tang dynasty

Daya, a monk who collected the numerous stone inscriptions using running script calligraphy of Wang Xizhi, as well as the inscriptions of Xu Sizhong, erected the Stele of Xingfu Temple in Shaanxi. Zhang Ai engraved this particular stele. It was buried during the Northern Song dynasty 960–1127) when the city was rebuilt, and was unearthed during the rule of Emperor Wanli (reigned 1572–1620) of the Ming dynasty. The remaining tablet was left with only the bottom half and is thus referred to as the Half Stele. The piece consists of 35 lines with 23 to 25 characters each; of these, three lines are blank.
The practice of erecting steles with Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy began with Huairen, a monk who compiled the Preface to Sagely Teachings in Wang Xizhi’s Calligraphy. Subsequently, several similar pieces were created in emulation of the natural and flowing nature of Wang’s character style. Yang Bin of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) noted that there were 18 calligraphers who compiled and emulated Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy during the Tang dynasty (618–907), and this stele stood second only to the original Preface to Sagely Teachings in Wang Xizhi’s Calligraphy in his ranking.