Longmen Grottoes: Four Outstanding Inscriptions - Inscription of Sculpture Commissioned by Monk Huicheng for Duke of Shiping

CHINA, Henan, Luoyang; Northern Wei dynasty

Acclaimed as one of the Four Outstanding Inscriptions of the Longmen Grottoes, this inscription is located on the north wall of Grotto 1443 (Guyang Grotto) at the Longmen Grottoes. Written by Meng Guangda and carved into stone by Zhu Yishang, the text describes a statue commissioned by monk Huicheng in memory of his recently deceased father, Duke of Shiping. The text consists of 10 lines of 20 characters each. A six-character title above the main inscription is written in regular script. The remaining text consists of protruding characters and raised grid lines, which is rare among Buddhist stone inscriptions, making it a highly regarded work within the Longmen Grottoes collection.
As a devout Buddhist, Emperor Xiaowen (reigned 471–499) of the Northern Wei dynasty commissioned the construction of the Longmen Grottoes and left numerous stele inscriptions for posterity. This particular stele is known for its strong and bold characters, which are scripted with angular brushwork. The strokes are articulated with sharp, squared edges, achieved by maneuvering the pointed tip during the landing, coasting, and lifting of the brush. Northern Wei steles are distinguished by their strong and powerful brushwork, which are well-represented in this inscription.