Meng Bi

CHINA; Sui dynasty

Meng Bi was a calligrapher who is well-known today for his calligraphy that appears on Stele of Qingzhou Relic Pagoda. The stele was engraved in the year 601 under the imperial order of Emperor Wen (reigned 581–604) of the Sui dynasty to construct relic pagodas in the 30 prefectures of the empire. The inscription was originally kept at Guangfu Temple in Shandong.
In addition to eight different names, including that of the provincial governor’s, the words “written by Meng Bi” were engraved at the end of the inscription. Overall, the piece is composed of clerical script calligraphy, intermixed with regular script. Considered an important and influential work of Buddhist art, the stele is currently kept at the Qingzhou Museum in Shandong. The earliest stone rubbing copy of the calligraphy is currently kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing.