Model Calligraphies from the Chunhua Era (Chunhua ge tie) Quanzhou version, part of juan 6-8 Image 1

In ancient times small and short pieces of model calligraphy in the form of letters or manuscripts written on bamboo or wooden tablets, on silk and paper were collected and later engraved onto stone or wood, and then rubbings were made from them for circulation and as specimens for training in calligraphy. These have been called tie — rubbings of model calligraphy. The most famous and of a grand scale in making such tie compilations was commissioned by the early Northern Song emperor Taizong, Zhao Guangyi (r. 976-997). The compilation was finished and engraved posthumously in 992. This is the famous ten-volume Chunhua ge tie (Model Calligraphy from the Imperial Archives of the Chunhua Era). A total of 419 model calligraphy by 105 calligraphers are engraved in the compilation and rubbings were made. Shortly after its completion, the original engravings of the set was damaged beyond repair, hence none of the rubbings from the original 992 engravings is extant. Imperial, official and private re-cuts and re-engravings soon appeared nevertheless, and were widely circulated, casting an unparalleled impact on the development of Chinese calligraphy.

This present rubbing of model calligraphy has been identified as having been made from the Quanzhou version, an early re-cut of the Chunhua ge tie of Quanzhou, Fujian province in the Southern Song period. The contents, 34 writings by Wang Xizhi (303-361), are selections from Volumes Six, Seven and Eight of the Chunhua ge tie.

The exquisite and skillful shaping retains the deftness and vivacity of Wang's brush, allowing us to catch a glimpse of archaic Jin calligraphy.

In 2016, the piece was listed in the “National Catalogue of Precious Ancient Books”.