Preface to the Sacred Religion of the King of Tuotang in the Northern Song Dynasty

[Preface to the Sacred Religion of the King of Tuotang in the Northern Song Dynasty]

The Preface to the Sacred Religion of the King of Tuotang in the Northern Song Dynasty is also known as the Preface to the Sacred Religion of the King of Huairen, which is also known as the Preface to the Sacred Religion of the Seven Buddhas, and is also known as the Preface to the Sacred Religion of Wang Xizhi, the General of the Right Army of the Jin Dynasty in Huairen (with the Heart Sutra). The inscription is in running script, with 30 lines and more than 80 words. The monument, 315.3 cm high and 141.3 cm wide, was erected in December of the third year of Tang Xianheng (672)
The monument is now in Xi’an Stele Forest Museum, Shaanxi. It is reported that after Xuanzang, the monk of the Tang Dynasty, returned to Chang’an from India, he translated a variety of scriptures at the order of Taizong, who wrote a preface for it himself, and the prince Li Zhi wrote a note. This preface and the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra translated by Emperor Taizong Da Chi, Prince Jian Da and Xuanzang are inscribed on the stone, which is the monument. The book was collected by Huairen, the Shamen of Chang’an Hongfu Temple, from the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi in the Tang Neifu. It took 25 years to complete from the 22nd year of Zhenguan (647) to the third year of Xianheng (672). It was polished by Zhining, Laiji, Xu Jingzong, Xue Yuanchao, Li Yifu and so on. Zhuge Shenli was carved on the stone. After the Song Dynasty, the stone tablets were interrupted. Because of the long time of hammering, the calligraphy and painting gradually became shallow and thin, so the unfinished rubbings were all Song Tuo
This rubbings is the early Northern Song Dynasty rubbings collected in the Forbidden City. The rubbings are cut and framed with black paper, and the thick ink is refined. The rubbings are 27 halves in total, with each half opening 23.7 cm vertically and 12.5 cm horizontally. There is an inscription by Wang Shimao, one section of the damaged Zhai and one section of the left postscript, and nine seals, including “Liuzhuang Academy Collection”, “Shangjun Ma Collection”, “Han Fengxi Seal”, “Chaoyan Family”, and “Yimu Garden Collection”. Wang Xizhi has a special position in the history of Chinese calligraphy and has a great influence on later generations. Wang Xizhi’s running script, which is found in many calligraphies, has been reproduced several times, and has distorted many features, which is unsubstantiated. This tablet collection is directly copied from the authentic works of Wang Xizhi in the Tang Dynasty. “With the owner of the right army’s postscript, Xian Weike Xiao” is therefore a valuable material for studying Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy, and also the best model for learning and writing running script, so it is extremely important for later generations. Kang Youwei believes that the calligraphy on this tablet is “natural in position, well-organized and can be described as a talent”, and “cutting and sewing are all as if you have made them”. This tablet is best for learners of running calligraphy. In the Qing Dynasty, Gu Yanwu’s Records of Jinshi Characters, Wang Chang’s Collection of Jinshi, Sun Chengze’s Records of Gengzi’s Sale of Summer, and other books were recorded.

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