“Preface to the Buddhist Canon” (Rubbing, Republic of China period) Original calligraphy by Chu Suiliang Stele erected in 653
This rubbing is from a Tang dynasty stele at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an. On this stele is engraved the Preface to the Buddhist Canon (commonly known as 大唐三藏聖敎序 , 慈恩寺聖教序, or 雁塔聖教序) by Chu Suiliang (596-658). Chu Suiliang’s Preface is one of the most famous Buddhist works in the history of Chinese calligraphy and has served as a model for many generations of calligraphers.
“Eight scenic spots in central Shaanxi” (Rubbing, Republic of China period) Original painting and calligraphy by Zhu Jiyi Stele erected in 1680, now held in the Xi’an Forest of Steles
Close-up of one section of “Guanzhong ba jing”
This rubbing is from a Qing dynasty stele that depicts eight scenic spots in the central area of Shaanxi Province, and incorporates calligraphy, painting, and poetry as a whole. The original design was painted and handwritten by Zhu Jiyi (fl. 17th century). The stele was erected in 1680, and is now preserved in the Forest of Steles in Xi’an.
“Poem by the Chongzhen Emperor to Yang Sichang” (Rubbing, Republic of China period) Original calligraphy by Sizong Zhu Youjian (Chongzhen Emperor) Stele erected in 1640, now held in the Xi’an Forest of Steles
Close-up detail of Chongzhen huangdi ci Yang Sichang shi bei
This rubbing is from a Ming dynasty stele of a poem that Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming dynasty wrote to his minister Yang Cichang (1588-1641) in 1640. The original stele was erected in 1640, and is now preserved in the Forest of Steles in Xi’an.
“Yuan Hui tomb inscription” (Rubbing, Republic of China period) The first line lists the titles, posts, and courtesy name of the deceased Tomb from 520, unearthed in 1926, now held in the Xi’an Forest of Steles
This rubbing is from the tomb epitaph of Yuan Hui. Yuan was a high official of the Northern Wei dynasty, who died in 520. The tomb was unearthed in Luoyang, Henan Province in 1926. This epitaph is now preserved in the Forest of Steles in Xi’an.
“Portrait of Guanyin painted by Wu Daozi” (Rubbing, Republic of China period) Painting copying attributed to Ye Chengtiao, from original by Wu Daozi Stele erected in 1664, now held in the Xi’an Forest of Steles
This rubbing is from a Qing dynasty stele that contains a full-length portrait of the Buddhist deity, Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara). The famed painter, Wu Daozi (689-759), purportedly painted a portrait of Guanyin, and then it was copied by Ye Chengtiao in 1664. The original stele was erected in 1664, and is now preserved in the Forest of Steles in Xi’an.
These three rubbings document some of the interesting history of Judaism and Jewish people in China. The steles date from the 15th through 17th century in Kaifeng—a city which was home to a Jewish community for many hundreds of years.
“Record of the synagogue reconstruction” By Jin Zhong ; calligraphy by Cao Zuo Stele erected in 1489 in Kaifeng by Jing Ying and Jin Li, rubbing produced in the late Qing dynasty Stele originally located at a synagogue in Kaifeng, now held at the Kaifeng Museum of Jewish History
Close-up of the upper portion of the rubbing
This rubbing is from the oldest of the three steles. Its contents are in three sections; one explains the origin and history of Judaism, another describes the rituals and worship of Chinese Jews around the time of the stele construction, and the last tells of a past imperial audience.
尊崇道經寺記 (Chen Fa Sun Jiagan zhi Shandong mou tong nian you shu zha he ji)
“History of the Daojing synagogue” By Zuo Tang ; calligraphy by Gao Kao Stele carved in 1512 in Kaifeng, rubbing produced in the late Qing dynasty Stele originally located at a synagogue in Kaifeng, now held at the Kaifeng Museum of Jewish History
This rubbing is from the second oldest of the three steles, which dates from 1512 and details the religious practices of the Jews in China at that time.
“Stone record of the temple history” By Zhao Chengji ; engraved by Han Shangwu and Cheng Yin Stele carved in 1679 in Kaifeng, rubbing produced in the late Qing dynasty Stele originally located at a synagogue in Kaifeng, now held at the Kaifeng Museum of Jewish History
This is the third and most recent of the Jewish stele rubbings held at UW.
“Nestorian Monument” (Rubbing, Republic of China period) By Jing Jing ; Calligraphy by Lü Xiuyan Stele erected in 781, now held in the Xi’an Forest of Steles
These rubbings are from a stele known as the Nestorian Monument, about Christianity in China in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The inscription was written by Jing Jing, a Buddhist monk active in the Tang Dynasty, and the calligraphy was done by Lü Xiuyan, a Tang dynasty official. The stele was erected on the 7th day of the 1st month of the 2nd year of the Jianzhong period in the Tang Dynasty (that is, 781).
The Nestorian Monument was unearthed in the town of Zhouzhi in Shaanxi Province in 1623 A.D. (Ming dynasty). The monument, now stored in the Forest of Steles in Xian, was erected by the earliest known Christian missionary to China, a Nestorian monk, Olopen, who came to China in 635 A.D. The Nestorian faith was known to the Chinese as jing jiao. Olopen built a temple in Chang’an, called the Da Qin Temple.
Close-up of upper section
Close-up of lower right section
Close-up of left section (upper portion)
The original stone monument, measuring 2.36 meters tall, 0.86 meters wide and 0.25 meters thick was carved in 781 A.D. The text at the top reads ‘(Let’s) praise (the Lord) that the Da Qin faith has been popular in China.’ The inscription on the monument was written by a follower called Lü Xiuyan and was about 1780 characters long. It mentions the early activities of Christianity in China and the Christian doctrine. On two sides of the bottom of the monument, the names of 128 followers are listed in Syriac script. The contents of the monument have been translated into many languages and the monument is invaluable to the study of the spread and development of Christianity in China.
“Mogao Grotto Six Syllable Mantra Stele” (Rubbing, modern) By Shoulang Stele erected in 1348, now held by the Dunhuang Academy
This rubbing is from a stele that was erected by Shoulang under the order of the Xining King Sulaiman (fl. 14th century). The stele was inscribed by Shelanlingzhan, and is now preserved in the Dunhuang Academy. The three Chinese characters mo gao ku on the top part of the stele stand for the Mogao Grotto. A portrait of a four-arm Guanyin is in the center, around which are inscribed a six-syllable mantra in six scripts: Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Tangut, Phagspa, and Mongolian.
“Portrait of the Most Honored Teacher” (Rubbing, Republic of China period) Original painting by Yunli Stele engraved in 1734, now held in the Xi’an Forest of Steles
This rubbing is from a Qing dynasty stele that portrays Confucius in the center. On the top, the title reads “Zhi sheng xian shi xiang,” which means “portrait of the most honored teacher”—that is, Confucius (551-479 BC). Inscriptions in the upper right corner are followed by the artist’s seal in both Chinese and Manchu. The portrait was painted by Prince Yunli, also known as Guoyi qinwang, who was the 17th son of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing (reigned 1662-1723). The original stele was erected in 1734, and is now preserved in the Forest of Steles in Xi’an.
