Anonymous, Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)
Hanging scroll, ink rubbing on paper, 170 x 82 cm

The Shih Ch'en stele is in the Temple of Confucius at Ch'ü-fu, Shantung. The stone, engraved on both sides, stands 231 cm tall and 112 cm wide. This rubbing is taken from the front, hence the title. It deals with a memorial inscription by Shih Ch'en, Minister of Lu, from 169 AD, describing how he paid homage to Confucius and petitioned to have spring and autumn rites performed for him.

This and "Ritual Vessels" and "I Ying" are three famous steles at the Temple of Confucius, the brushwork gentle and reserved yet still grand and upright. Steeped in antiquity and strictly regulated, the form and style of the characters are well prepared, making this ideal for someone starting to study clerical script, not to mention a masterful work of engraved calligraphy from the Eastern Han.

Su Shih (1036-1101), Sung dynasty
Handscroll, ink on paper, 27 x 85.1 cm

Su Shih (sobriquet Tung-p'o) was a native of Szechwan. A brilliant scholar versed in the Classics and history, his poetry, prose, painting, and calligraphy were outstanding as he achieved renown for his own style.

This work entrusted from the Lan-ch'ien shan-kuan collection is on Tu Fu's poem "T'ang-ch'eng." It describes scenes from a thatched hut, relating the disasters of war and Tu's sentiments of settling in Chengtu. Su Shih used Tu's poetry to voice his own feelings of banishment to Huang-chou. The colophon employs Tu's poetry to explain that the alder tree is easily grown and favored by farmers. This scroll in running script has smooth, beautiful characters that stretch out. Brushwork is vigorous and ink tones dynamic, making this a masterpiece of rich harmony from Su's middle years.

Wang Ch'ung (1494-1533), Ming dynasty
Handscroll, ink on paper, 29.3 x 294.5 cm

Wang Ch'ung, a native of Soochow, studied with his brother Wang Shou under Wen Cheng-ming and Ts'ai Yü. Wang Ch'ung excelled at poetry and prose, and his calligraphy followed the ancient styles of Wang Hsien-chih and Yü Shih-nan. Wang is known along with Chu Yün-ming and Wen Cheng-ming as the "Three Talents of Soochow."

These poems were written on sutra paper from Mt. Chin-su. The paper texture is stiff and capable of revealing Wang's quick and forceful brushwork as well as the areas where he lifted and pressed the brush. Wang's brushwork has a sturdy and slightly awkward effect to give his calligraphy a unique, rhythmic quality. This work done at Wang's nominal age of 35 has the air of a great calligrapher.