Confucian Classics inscribed on Stele
Stone somehow suits Chinese characters. The third dimension adds to the ability of the calligrapher
to express the meaning of the character. Stone engraving necessarily modified the form of the characters
and gave rise to new schools of calligraphy. The stele (pronounced stee lee) shown above is one of a set
containing the seven classics of Confucius - Book of History, Book of Songs, Book of Changes, Spring
and Autumn Annals, Book of Rites and the Analects of Confucius. In addition, Gongyang's Annotation of
Spring and Autumn Annals are included. The stele was engraved in 175 AD, the fourth year of Xiping's reign in the
Eastern Han Dynasty.

http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/SMcalligraphy/index.html
(c) Marilyn Shea, 2006, 2007