Table Of ContentTH 8LA N D S C A PE
OF WORDS
S t o n e
I n s c r ip t io n s
f r o m Early
a n d M e d ie v a l
C h in a
R obert £. H a rris t麵
THE L A N D S C A P E
OF WORDS
THE LANDSCAPE
OF WORDS
Stone Inscriptions from Early and Medieval China
ROBERT E. HARRISTJR.
University of Washington Press
Seattle and London
The Landscape of Words: Stone Inscriptions from Early and Medieval China
is published with the assistance of the Getty Foundation.
The book also received generous support from Columbia University.
© 2008 by the University of Washington Press
Printed in China
12 11 10 09 08 54321
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy,
recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the publisher.
University of Washington Press
P.O. Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145 U.S.A.
www.washington.edu/uwpress
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Harrist, Robert E.，Jr. '
The landscape of words: stone inscriptions from early and medieval China /
Robert E. Harrist Jr.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
iSBN-13: 978-0-295-98728-6 (alk. paper)
isBN-io: 0-295-98728-6 (alk. paper)
1. Petroglyphs— China. I. Title. II. Title: Stone inscriptions from early
and medieval China.
GN799.P4H3345 2008
709.01130931— dc22 2007009851
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z 39.48-1984.
FRONTISPIECE： Passage from the Diamond Sutra. Undated, ca. 570—580. Stone inscription,
each character ca. 50 cm high. Sutra Valley, Mt. Tai, Tai，an, Shandong. Photo： Author.
To Weizhi and Jack,
who went to the mountains with me
Acknowledgments ix
Note to the Reader xiii
Chronology of Chinese Dynasties xv
Introduction
Writing on the Bones of the Earth 17
Chapter One
Public Works and Public Writing at the Stone Gate 31
Chapter Two
Roaming with Immortals on Cloud Peak Mountain 93
Chapter Three
The Virtual Stele on Mount Tie and the Merits of Scale 157
Chapter Four
Imperial Writing and the Ascent of Mount Tai 219
Chapter Five
Postscript 271
Chinese Texts 291
Abbreviations 299
Notes 301
Glossary of Chinese Characters 353
Bibliography 361
Index 387
f
Research for this book began with a trip to China in the summer of 1998. The
scholars, friends, and relatives that my wife and I encountered on that trip, and on
later visits, made it possible to complete my work, and it is to these remarkable
people that I must first offer my thanks.
In Beijing, Mr. Shi Anchang，of the Palace Museum, loaned me an essential
book at just the moment I needed it. Professor Liu Tao, of the Central Academy of
Fine Arts, also has offered research materials and good advice over the years. Profes
sor Yang Xin, of Beijing University, shared his profound knowledge of Mt. Tai and
helped arrange my fi-rst trip to the mountain. Professor Zhang Zong，of the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, shared his immense knowledge of Buddhism, and
Professor Luo Zhao, also of the academy, enthusiastically guided me on an unforget
table visit to the Yunjusi. My old friends Chris and Freda Murck repeatedly offered
hospitality and good cheer in Beijing, the city that has become their home.
In Qingdao, my wife’s uncle Mr. Lu Zongyou helped me reach Cloud Peak
Mountain. Ms. Chi drove us there, and her daughter, Tiantian, climbed the mountain
with us. Mayor Li ofLaizhou treated us royally and escorted us to other mountains.
On a later visit, Mr. Leonard Wang, of Qingdao University, guided me on a visit to
Mt. Lao.
The key institution in China that made my research possible was the Shan
dong Stone Carving Art Museum in Jinan. There I met one of the most remarkable
，
scholars I know, Mr. Lai Fei, whose knowledge of writing on stone in all its forms
is unsurpassed. He has become a good friend to my family, and we look forward to
many future visits with him. Also at the museum, Director Jiao Desen offered patient
encouragement and facilitated my research on several visits. Mr. Zhang Guangcun
generously shared his knowledge and gave me a manuscript of a forthcoming
article. Thanks to Mr. Wei Guangping, of the Shandong Youth Travel Bureau, I was
able to participate in two extraordinary study tours with scholars from China and
Japan.
In Taian Mr. Liu Hui, director of the Temple of Mt. Tai, gave me important
， ，
information about inscriptions on Mt. Tai and presented me with a copy of his book,
which proved to be a valuable source. Mr. Hu Xinli, director of the Cultural Relics
Bureau in Zoucheng, was a wonderful host during visits to Mt. Tie and other moun
tains, and his son, Hu Mingche, made sure I did not fall down.
Mr. Hua Rende, of the Suzhou University Library, a superb calligrapher and
scholar, invited me and my wife to his home and helped us gain useful introductions
to scholars in the Suzhou area.
In Hanzhong, I had the great honor to meet the former director of the Han-
zhong Municipal Museum, Mr. Guo Rongzhang. Mr. Guo, the world’s foremost expert
on the inscriptions at the Stone Gate, offered wise counsel and sent important
research materials. He also provided rare photographs of the inscriptions that appear
among the illustrations in this book. The current director of the museum, Mr. Feng
Suiping，generously arranged a trip to the Lingyansi, which my wife, son, and I
always will remember.
Lis Jung Lu and Lu Dadong, brilliant young scholars who live in Hangzhou,
also provided important information and excellent color photographs.
During visits to Fuzhou, my mother-in-law, Ms. Lu Binfang, took care of all
the family, just as she does when she is in New York, and my wife’s uncle Mr. Wang
Quan tirelessly accompanied me on trips to Mt. Gu and many other sites and helped
me find books published locally that cannot be acquired elsewhere. Mr. Liu Xiangru,
an expert on Fuzhou history, also helped me find materials and guided me around
the city he knows so well.
During study trips in China in 2002 and 20051 had the good fortune to meet
three scholars from Japan whose writings are cited throughout my book and whose
advice I valued greatly Professors Kiriya Seiichi, Aikawa Masayuki, and Sakata
：
Ryuichi. With great generosity, Professor Sakata sent me a cache of extraordinary
photographs, from which many of the illustrations in chapter 2 were taken.
Throughout the course of my research on mountain inscriptions，I have been
inspired by the work of Professor Lothar Ledderose，of Heidelberg University, whose
own studies of carved calligraphy set a high standard for the rest of us. His friend
ship and advice have been equally treasured. Professor Jessica Rawson kindly took
time from her own work at Oxford to read, in various stages of completion, all the
chapters of this book, offering stimulating suggestions and cheering me up on many
occasions. Professor Bai Qianshen also read the manuscript and offered important
suggestions. Many of the ideas developed in this book first took shape in my gradu
ate school days at Princeton in the seminars of my teacher Professor Wen C. Fong,
to whom I am deeply grateful.
Without the editorial advice of Jan Stuart and Susan Nelson, my two extra
ordinary friends and mentors, I probably would have just given up. Professors Amy
McNair and Eugene Wang read the entire manuscript and made it much better
through their wise interventions. At the last minute, Professors Martin Kern and
Michael Nylan reviewed a translation and corrected numerous errors. The many
that no doubt remain are my own doing. Professors Stanley Abe, Xiaoshan Yang,
