Stone Drum Inscription: the Origin of Calligraphy Rules

2 min read

China entered the Spring and Autumn period when Pingwang (emperor of the Zhou dynasty) moved the state capital to Luoyang in 770 B. C. The 10 stone drums and inscriptions onside formed in this period was the very first piece of ston inscription work found in China up to now. Its presence symbolized the end oef slavery art represented by bronze ware and the beginning of feudal art of calligraphy represented by stone inscription. The stone drum inscription was honored as “the origin of calligraphic rules” by Kang Youwei The style of stone drum inscription followed the style of bronze inscription in the Western Zhou dynasty and influenced small seal script in the Qin dynasty.

In terms of calligraphy, stone drum inscription deferred bronze inscription in its full and pithy strokes, symmetric and balanced structure and almost square form as well as the ordered broad ways of writing. Compared with bronze inscription, stone drum inscription was even more regular It adopted the complicated structure of bronze inscription; and its symmetric and plump long strokes and regular ways of writing was adopted by later small seal script. Most characters were in form of rectangle. They were ordered, solid, solemn and imposing. Its primitive beauty impressed people tion of all generations Calligraphers believe that stone drum inscription set up the criterion for large seal script which is the precursor of small seal script. Apparently, stone drum inscription was the transitional form between bell inscription and stone inscription, between large seal script and small seal script. With its plump, strong and pithy style, it was considered as important model for practicing seal script by calligraphers from all times.

Hence it gained the honor “the origin of calligraphic rules”. The Qing dynasty had witnessed the greatest influence of stone drum inscription on Chinese calligraphy. Masters of seal script, Yang Yisun and Wu Changshuo, formed their own style based on the style of stone drum inscription. Su Shi once said that stone drum inscription inherited the excellence of tradition since Huangdi and Cangjie and inspired masters of small seal script such as Li Si and Li Yangbing.

It served as a great monument in the art history of seal script. Its great historical significance was in its strokes, structure, rules o writing and artistic conception that had provided reference for later calligraphy.