Anti-Left Books Trace Their Origins and Their ValueLin Mayu.
Anti-left calligraphy is a wonderful flower in the blooming of calligraphy art during the Six Dynasties. Inspired by the seal and the "stone tablet ink rubbing", the anti-left book was born. According to historical records, the anti-left script was popular during the Six Dynasties period, and it was popular in the same period of Liang Datong, but then due to the Hou Jing Rebellion, Emperor Wu of Liang starved to death in Taicheng, and the Nanjing (emperor) culture was seriously destroyed, coupled with the great difficulty of writing the anti-left script, it became a unique sound in the history of Chinese calligraphy.
In recent years, with the revival of traditional Chinese culture, anti-leftist books have gradually been valued and excavated, and many provinces and places have listed anti-leftist books as representative items of intangible cultural heritage. Anti-left calligraphy is to learn the basic skills of Xi seals, engravings, and movable type. Seals, rubbings, anti-left books, engravings (woodcut watermarks, prints, New Year paintings), and movable type are in the same line, influence each other, develop independently, and complement each other, and the anti-left book plays the role of a bridge between the previous and the next. At present, the pre-Qin seals (seal carving), anti-left scripts, Sui and Tang woodcut engravings, and Northern Song Dynasty woodcut movable type have all become artistic treasures of excellent traditional Chinese culture, among which seal carving, engraving printing, and wooden movable type printing have been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The works of anti-leftist calligraphy have also been collected by the National Museum, but there are very few influential people in the country who have mastered this skill, and researching, inheriting, and developing anti-leftist calligraphy has become a top priority. The author tries to trace its origin and analyze its survival value, in order to learn from you and your colleagues.
1. Tracing the origin of anti-leftist books
1) The anti-leftist book is physically exquisite and traceable.
1。The monuments are in good physical condition.
Nanjing, as the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, is the origin of the anti-leftist book. The author consulted a large number of materials, such as Tang Xu Song's "Jiankang Record", Song Zhang Dunyi's "Classification of Deeds of the Six Dynasties", Song Wang Xiangzhi's "Jisheng of the Land", Qing Zhu Kongyang's "Preparation for the Mausoleum of the Past Dynasties" and Zhu Xizu, Teng Gu's "Six Dynasties Mausoleum Investigation Report", Mo Youzhi's "Jinshi Bizhi", Japan's Tokiwa Dading and Guan Yezhen's "Chinese Cultural and Historical Sites" and other books all involve Xiao Jing's tomb and Xiao Shun's tomb Shinto tablet inscription text in the "reverse engraved reading", "anti-text reverse reading", "one is the main book, one is the anti-text" and other descriptions, or there are** The inclusion shows the importance of the world. The author inspected the most complete and most iconic Shinto stone pillars of the Liang Mausoleum of the Southern Dynasty in the anti-left book. The first is the stone pillar on the east side of the Shinto of the tomb of Emperor Wen of Liang Wen in Danyang, with the inscription "Emperor Taizuwen's Shinto" (Fig. 1, Fig. 2).Another well-preserved example is the stone pillar on the west side of the Shinto of Xiaojing Tomb in Qixia District, Nanjing. The pillar is 6 high. 5 meters, column circumference 2. 48 meters, the upper circle of the pillar base, the column body is round, there is a rectangular column forehead on the upper part of the stone pillar, and the inscription is 23 reverse words: "Liang Ancient Servant Zhongfu General Kaifu Yi and the Three Divisions Wu Pingzhong Marquis Xiao Gong's Shinto." (Fig. 3, Fig. 4).
Figure 1, Figure 2
"Liang's Former Servant Zhongzhong Fu General Kaifu Yi and the Three Divisions Wu Pingzhong Hou Xiao Gong's Divine Dao", these 23 anti-left calligraphy characters were praised by Kang Youwei as "the sect of flat and even".
(Fig. 3, Fig. 4).
In addition, the inscription of the right Shinto stone pillar of the tomb of King Xiao Xiu of An Chengkang still has the word "so scattered" in the reverse text;In the excavation of other tombs of the Six Dynasties in Nanjing, there were also sporadic anti-text discoveries in some stone carvings and carved bricks. For example, on the tomb bricks of the tomb of King Xiaorong of Guiyang outside the Taiping Gate, there are three words of "big duck tongue", of which "duck" is the reverse text. Another example is that the tomb brick of Gaoping Taishou Hou Jun is engraved with "Hou Jun Year Seventy-three Branches", of which "seven" is the reverse text. Anti-texts were fashionable at that time, and became a unique symbol in the writing of the Six Dynasties, and these anti-texts were called anti-left books in history.
After research, the anti-left book first appeared on the bronze mirror of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the era of the two kings. In addition, there is also a theory that the anti-left book was created by Kong Jingtongchuang (Yu Yuanwei language) during the Datong period of the Liang Dynasty. However, Xiao Shunzhi and Xiao Jing were both buried before Datong, and the time interval between the construction of their Shinto stone pillars was not long. Therefore, this statement needs to be further examined.
2。Historical review.
As a historical marker, the Anti-Left Book has been commented on and written by many celebrities and people with lofty ideals in ancient and modern times. The "Etymology" records: "Anti-left calligraphy, writing with the left hand, is a kind of calligraphy. Liang Yu Yuanwei's "On Books" of the Southern Dynasty recorded: "There are 120 kinds of books, one of which is an anti-left book. Datong Middle East Palace scholar Kong Jingtong founded. Zhang Yanyuan of the Tang Dynasty "Records of the Book of Law" contains: "Liang Yu Yuanwei's "Analects" of the Southern Dynasty: anti-leftist scholars, created by Kong Jingtong, a scholar of the Middle East Palace in Datong (534-546). ”
3。Modern Discourse.
In modern times, many famous calligraphers and scholars have also discussed anti-leftist books. Lu Xun's "Supplement to the Collection of Relics" said: "On the cast bronze mirror of the Jin people, the words 'Da Sui is in the future', and the word 'in' is anti-left;The word "county" in 'Wujun Zheng Manjing' is also anti-leftist. Kang Youwei's "Guangyi Boat Shuangji" praised the stone pillar on the west side of the Shinto of Xiaojing's tomb in Nanjing, with the inscription as "the sect of flat and even". Qian Zhongshu said: "Yu Yuanwei called Kong Jingtong to create an anti-left book, at that time, the left line was like Lu and the anti-construction was like a mirror reflecting the word. The "Pipe Cone Edition" points out two characteristics of the anti-left book: "First, the line of writing from right to left is opposite to the direction of the usual line of writing, and second, the structure is reversed, and there is a mirror relationship with the usual structure. Zheng Juxin, a doctoral supervisor at the China Academy of Art, said: "The influence of seals and rubbings on engraving is the consensus of the academic community, and anti-leftist calligraphy plays a role in this process as a technical means." ”
2) The origin of anti-leftist books and Taoism.
The anti-left book is a written form left by the ancients to future generations to accept the way of heaven, follow the way of the earth, understand humanity, and experience the way of things, which not only contains ancient Chinese philosophical thoughts, but also embodies the concept of Taoist culture.
1。Tomb Que anti-left book and Taoism.
The author pays attention to the study of anti-leftist books and finds two articles with similar views. Lu Xixing's "Anti-Left Book Hook Shen" said: "The anti-book in the tomb is a folk phenomenon, and it is speculated that this is a kind of writing used by Taoism. Li Meitian and Li Xue's "Discussion on the Anti-Book Brick Inscriptions in the Tombs of the Six Dynasties" argued: "The anti-book inscription tomb bricks may be to present a seal-like effect or a simulation of the seal. The seal is an important ritual instrument in Taoist activities, so the anti-calligraphy inscription brick may be the result of the symbolic seal left by Taoism's participation in funeral activities. ”
The author believes that the emergence of anti-leftist book culture has a direct relationship with Taoism, and the Hopson Lao, Large, Medium and Small Zodiac are all Taoist **, Taoism is the religion of China, and the writing of tombstones and gods is unique.
According to historical records, the stone carving camp of Liang Jianling was built in the early days of Emperor Wu of Liang. On the eighth day of the fourth month of the fourth month (April 30) of the second year of Zhongxing (502), Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang, officially ascended the altar in the southern suburbs of the capital to accept the kneeling of hundreds of officials to congratulate and worship heaven and earth to establish the Liang Dynasty. In the first year of Tianjian (502), Emperor Wu of Liang posthumously honored his father Xiao Shunzhi as Emperor Wen. Before the third year of the Heavenly Prison (504), Emperor Wu of Liang revered Taoism. "Sui Shu Jing Ji Zhi" contains: "Emperor Wu was a good thing in his weak years, first received the Tao, and ascended the throne, just since the previous chapter, the courtiers received the Tao. "In the second year of the Heavenly Prison (503)," the size of the Tao is correct. Pyeongchang Meng Jingyi, the word Dao Fu, when it was Taizheng, repeatedly spoke for the country". These are the best examples of Emperor Wu of Liang's reverence for Taoism, which undoubtedly enhanced its presence at the political level. "Guanghong Ming Collection" contains: "I wish that in the future life, the boy will become a monk, spread the scriptures and teachings, transform the degree of knowledge, and become a Buddha together." It is better to fall into the evil path in the Fa-rectification, and not to be happy to be born temporarily according to Lao Tzu's teachings. "After the third year of the Heavenly Prison (504), Emperor Wu of Liang switched to Buddhism. From the construction time of the mausoleum, the Pixiu and other objects on the side of the mausoleum, and the inscriptions of the law of the zodiac, it is speculated that it is related to Taoism, not Buddhism. The anti-left book implies the functions of Taoist talismans such as exorcism, avoidance of evil, prayer for blessings, and blessings.
2。Anti-Left Books and the Law of the Zodiac.
In Chinese Taoist culture, choose the auspicious day of the ecliptic, write the tablet, auspicious posts, etc., to conform to the laws of the ecliptic, with "when the road is far away, when to reach, when the road is far away, when to return to the hometown" these twelve words correspond to the earthly branch, and in order sentence by sentence word by word set of content, reincarnation cycle, tablet and other last words fall on the word with "辶" on the ecliptic;Use the five words of "birth, old age, sickness and death" to set the content word by word in order, reincarnation cycle, and the last word such as the stele falls on the "life" (some regions "old" also belong to the auspicious word) is in line with the middle ecliptic;Use the three words "rise and fall" to set the content sentence by sentence in order, reincarnation cycle, and the last word of the expression and text fall on the "Xing" or "Fa" is in line with the little ecliptic;If there is a discrepancy, the word is written in the anti-left script in line with the ecliptic. The last word of the stone pillar on the east side of the Shinto of the tomb of Emperor Wen of Liang in Danyang "Emperor Taizuwen's Shinto" (Figure 5) corresponds to "Yao" and "Fa", and the last word of the stone pillar on the east side of the Shinto of Xiaojing Tomb in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing corresponds to "also" and "hair", which is just in line with the big and small ecliptic, but it is not in line with the middle ecliptic, so the "anti-left book" is used. The author speculates that due to the war and the unstable situation, the ruling class wants to use anti-leftist books and Pixiu to drive away evil spirits and pray for the blessing of the country, and the desire to pursue national peace and security and Baifu Guzhen also fully demonstrates the royal privilege.
Fig.5 The stone pillar on the east side of the Shinto of the tomb of Emperor Wen of Liang and Xiao Shun is written on the left side of the anti-left book "The Shinto of Emperor Taizu Wen".
3。Anti-Left Books and Folk Xi.
In order to avoid the poor god and the taboo, the folk have posted an anti-left book note on the door and in the house, "Jiang Taigong is here, there is no taboo", this Xi custom has been followed to this day, and this Xi custom is still retained in the north of Lanxi City, Zhejiang;The "dragon" inscribed on the "Shuanglong Cave" in the Shuanglong Cave Scenic Area of Jinhua (Fig. 6), the "out" of the "Izuxuan" in the Maoshan Taoist Courtyard (Fig. 7), and some sporadic anti-left calligraphy can be seen in the ancient buildings in Wenzhou (Fig. 8). This Xi is said to be related to Jiang Taigong.
Fig.6 The inscription of "Shuanglong Cave" in Jinhua Shuanglong Cave Scenic Area, "Dragon" is an anti-left book
Fig.7 Maoshan Taoist Academy's "Out of Xuan", "Out" is an anti-left book
Fig.8 Stone carvings of the birthplace of Wong Tai Sin in Lanxi, Jinhua, Zhejiang
3) The philosophical ideas generated by anti-leftist books.
Chinese philosophy is broad and profound, mainly based on Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, and most of it originates from and is used in life, which has a profound impact on Chinese culture.
1。Anti-Left Books and the Book of Changes
The Theory of Yin and Yang holds that the world is a material whole, and that everything in nature contains two aspects of yin and yang that are opposed to each other, and that the two opposing sides are mutually rooted and unified with each other. The opposition and unity of yin and yang is the fundamental reason for the occurrence, development, change and demise of all things in nature. "Yi Chuan: The First Dictionaries" says: "One yin and one yang are the Tao." The sequence diagram of the Fuxi Bagua shows that "yin is within yang, not in the opposite of yang", which not only covers the idea of "both opposites and unity", but also covers the content of the message that both sides of the opposition embody the whole. Each individual of the anti-leftist book is two opposing things horizontally, which not only excludes each other, but also promotes each other, and embodies the complementary characteristics of yin and yang, positive and negative interchange, but the ontology remains unchanged, and the appearance is changing, laying the philosophical foundation for the emergence of anti-leftist books.
2。Anti-Left Books and the Tao Te Ching
The Taoist classic "Tao Te Ching" summarizes everything as "the movement of the opposite Tao" as "the movement of the opposite Tao". The movement rule of the Tao is that the positive and negative aspects of the opposite cycle are endless and endless, the Tao is in motion, and it moves in the way of "anti", which means: (1) return to the origin, return to the starting point;(2) from positive to negative;(3) Opposites complement each other (yin and yang complementary, positive and negative interchange). Lao Tzu saw and revealed a series of contradictions such as positive and negative, up and down, life and death, good and bad, existence and absence, strength and weakness, size and so on, he believed that these contradictions are "opposites and unity", no aspect can exist in isolation, and must be interdependent, mutually premised, and mutually transformed, that is, positive and negative roots, life and death, existence and non-existence, difficulty and ease of each other, length and short, upper and lower phases, laying a theoretical foundation for the birth of anti-leftist books.
2. The value of anti-leftist books
1) The influence of anti-left books on engraving printing.
Li Shuhua's "The Origin of Seals and Copying and Their Influence on the Invention of Engraving Printing" and Zhang Hongwei's "On the Origin of Engraving Printing" and other articles all emphasized: "The anti-text of the tomb is a direct inspiration and a positive inspiration for engraving printing. Zhang Xiumin's "History of Chinese Printing" pointed out: "The Xi of Yang script and reverse writing in tombs has brought free enlightenment to block printing. "I know how to use anti-text printing......Gradually, it developed into true engraving printing. As a result, the "anti-leftist book" directly influenced Yangzhou, which is more than 100 kilometers away from Nanjing, and gave birth to "engraving printing".
2) The special function of the anti-left book directly on the stone edition.
There are two main types of stone and engraving (movable type) on the seal of the ancients: (1) reverse word on the stone (version) (including anti-left book and anti-book);(2) Rubbing on the stone (plate). Ancient texts are arranged from right to left, and it is too difficult to write with anti-left books from the perspective of perspective, and it is affected by the perspective of writing, and finally developed into the popular rubbing method of using paper backwards, although rubbing will affect the best artistic level of play, but it is not difficult, so it is still in use.
3) Anti-leftist books develop the enlightening value of the right brain.
This form of writing is convenient for the development of the right brain, the cultivation of reverse thinking, the balance of the left and right hands play a subtle role in training, for the seal carving, engraving, movable type and other training of a group of practical skills of the writing of the professional talent to lay a good foundation.
3. Innovative practice of anti-leftist books
Anti-Left Books provide a valuable historical basis for the study and creation of calligraphy. It can propose a new paradigm and new category for the creative practice of Chinese calligraphy, and can supplement or continue some traditional spirits.
Based on the two examples of anti-left calligraphy in the Southern Dynasty Shinto Monument, the author got inspiration from the positive and negative inscriptions on one piece, and innovated a novel form of calligraphy, writing the main script with the right hand and the reverse text with the left hand, writing the positive and negative calligraphy together, forming a yin and a yang in the layout form, and symmetrical balance up and down or left and right, which is refreshing and can stimulate the interest of calligraphy lovers in learning Xi.
Through ceramics, mahogany, porcelain, Chinese knots, wall stickers, bookmarks, almanacs, and wall calendars (Fig. 9), the anti-left book can be combined with the current era to create a new art form.
Figure 9
In short, the tradition of Chinese calligraphy is multi-qualitative, and each type of calligraphy in history tells us the story of that era and makes us discover the meaning of life. Learning Xi calligraphy is not about cultivating more calligraphers, but about cultural inheritance. Anti-leftist calligraphy is not only a special cultural carrier and a unique form of calligraphy, but also a precious cultural heritage of mankind, and we have the obligation and responsibility to inherit and develop it and carry it forward.