Song Dynasty Calligraphy Inscriptions

Preface and postscript is one article style that has been existed since ancient China. At the very beginning, it was expositions or remarks attached before or after articles, books, inscriptions on metal and stone and handwriting or paintings. Later it becomes one independent writing form and written as a separated article. The "calligraphy preface and postscript" mentioned in this paper is specifically refers to the preface and postscript written for calligraphy, inscriptions on metal and stone and engraving. These articles are important references on calligraphy critics, calligraphy theory and research and calligraphy history. They exposit and remark in details on forms, contents, styles, origin dynasties, calligrapher background, collection and circulation and value and significance about handwriting and painting, inscriptions on metal and stone and engraving. This thesis is a specific research about "calligraphy preface and postscript" originated in Song dynasty.Song dynasty was not so prosper, but the rulers respected sages and scholars and gained outstanding achievements in culture. With the prevailing of the searching or collecting for ancient and present handwriting, inscriptions on metal and stone and engraving for a time, the preface and postscript for handwriting, inscriptions on metal and stone emerged in large amount. This kind of preface and postscript together with the preface and postscript for poems, articles, paintings, books and ancient utensils comprised of the great "preface and postscript literature". The achievement of "calligraphy preface and postscript" in Song dynasty is very rich and there were manygreat masters who were famous for appreciating calligraphy and also many works entitled "preface and postscript". These articles are valuable to the collection and circulation, appreciation, study of the handwriting and research of handwriting history. What's more, they are valuable materials indispensable for the research of Song dynasty calligraphy, characters, literature and history.This thesis is aimed to do research about calligraphy preface and postscript in Song dynasty. The thesis is divided into four parts. Part one is the general introduction about "calligraphy preface and postscript" in Song dynasty, including concise definition, exposition and division of "preface and postscript", "calligraphy preface and postscript" and description of origin and development of "calligraphy preface and postscript". Part two is the analysis about the content and form of the Song dynasty "calligraphy preface and postscript". The content of calligraphy preface and postscript in Song dynasty is very rich, including the calligrapher's life, textual research of the origin dynasty, true or false of the characters, textual research of involved history, calligraphy styles appreciation, textual research of authentic works of calligraphy and the remark of previous preface and postscript. The preface and postscript in Song dynasty is also characterized with variation of length, flexibility of forms, accuracy of argument, concise of words, sincerity of feelings and combination of poem and narration, etc. This part is to exemplify preface and postscript in Song dynasty and analyze the characteristics of its content and forms in details. Part three is the analysis of the cultural and social background for the prosperity of "calligraphy preface and postscript" in Song dynasty. The Song dynasty respected sage and scholars,emphasized culture and literature, the vogue of buying, selling and collecting handwriting and paintings and the search for inscriptions on metal and stone are all contribute to the prevailing of "calligraphy preface and postscript" in the dynasty. Part four is the description of the significance, value, achievement and influence of "calligraphy preface and postscript". The large amount of calligraphy preface and postscript emerged in Song dynasty play important role in guiding calligraphy appreciation and study, calligraphy collection and circulation. Meanwhile, they are also important ref...