Inscriptions from the Stele of Mount Yi - Xu Xuan

A reproduction of a traditional ink rubbing featuring the formal seal script calligraphy of the Stele of Mount Yi, as rendered by Xu Xuan in 978.

This print reproduces a rubbing of the Stele of Mount Yi, a significant example of Chinese seal script (zhuanshu) calligraphy. The original text commemorates the unification of China under the Qin Dynasty, specifically the travels of the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The calligraphy style is characterised by its balanced, symmetrical structure and uniform line weight, which reflects the standardisation of writing systems during the third century BC.

Xu Xuan, a scholar and official during the Song Dynasty, produced this version in 978. His work is valued for its technical precision and its role in preserving the aesthetic qualities of the ancient seal script. The characters are arranged in a strict grid, demonstrating a high degree of order and formal discipline. The vertical strokes are elongated, while the horizontal elements maintain a consistent thickness, creating a sense of stability and permanence.

This specific rubbing captures the physical condition of the stone, including the visible fractures that have occurred over centuries of exposure. These marks provide a record of the object's history and the material reality of stone-carved inscriptions. The stark contrast between the white characters and the dark background is a result of the traditional rubbing process, where ink is applied to paper pressed against the stone surface. This method allows for the reproduction of fine details and the texture of the stone itself. The print offers an opportunity to examine the evolution of Chinese writing and the practice of epigraphy, which involves the study and preservation of ancient inscriptions. It serves as a document of both linguistic history and the artistic traditions of the Song period.