Chinese Calligraphy: The Development of Clerical Script
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Inscription of the Monk Dazhi Stele (detail)
By Shi Weize, China, Tang dynasty, 736Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
April 13, 2021 (Tue) - May 30, 2021 (Sun)Chinese script was first standardized during the reign of the Qin emperor (221–206 BC). This so-called seal script was replaced by the less complicated clerical script of the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220). From the Northern and Southern dynasties (439–589), clerical script was further simplified to what is now known as standard script, although it remained in use for memorial stones. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (712–756) and the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), clerical script briefly came back into fashion and became the subject of epigraphy.
In this exhibition we are currently displaying ink rubbings from the Eastern Han dynasty to the Tang dynasty (618–907) and works from various Qing-dynasty (1644–1912) scholars to explore the development of clerical script.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Inscription of the Ritual Tools Stele | China | Eastern Han dynasty, 156 | TB-882 | |||
| Highlight | Inscription of the Kong Xian Stele | China | Wei dynasty, 221 | TB-625 | |||
| Highlight | Inscription of the Monk Dazhi Stele | Hanging scroll | By Shi Weize (dates unknown), China | Tang dynasty, 736 | TB-338 |