Ox scapula inscriptions are the written records of the sacrificial activities of the Shang dynasty. The whole piece of oracle bone is basically intact with the complete inscriptions. It is the first part of a complete set of inscribed oracle bones. The inscriptions are records of the kings worshipping their ancestors and nature gods, praying for a good harvest by sacrificing sheep and cattle.
Oracle is the most ancient Chinese character font known so far, notable for its simplicity and dignity.

The Ding of the Duke of Mao is a renowned bronze vessel cast in the late Western Zhou dynasty, now collected in the Taipei Palace Museum. This full-surface rubbing, which creates a three-dimensional effect, was made in the Qing dynasty.

Langyatai Keshi was attributed to Li Si, a statesman of the Qin dynasty (221-207 BCE). It was originally engraved on Langyatai, Zhucheng, Shandong province. The engraved stone has been largely damaged for long, with only 13 columns from the decree of Qin Er Shi (the second emperor of the Qin dynasty) remained. These characters were engraved in the first year (209 BCE) of the reign of Qin Er Shi with firm and balanced brushstrokes that exemplify the Qin dynasty seal script calligraphy. This rubbing was made in the Jiaqing reign (1796-1820) of the Qing dynasty.

Yiying stele was carved in the first year (153) of the Yongxing era in the Eastern Han dynasty in Qufu, Shandong province. The stele records that the minister of the Lu state suggested to employ keepers for the Confucius Temple. The calligraphy shows a strong and solemn style, which is regarded as a classic example of matured Han dynasty clerical script. On this rubbing, the character 辟 is still complete, which indicates that it is a rubbing made in the late Ming dynasty since the right part of the character was lost later.

Wang Xizhi (303-361), also known by his zi (designated name) Yishao, was a native of Linyi in Langya. He later moved to Shaoxing. Serving as the General of Youjun, Wang was also called "Wang Youjun". Wang Xizhi absorbed the expertise of many master calligraphers and had a profound learning of various scripts of calligraphy. He pioneered new trends in running and cursive scripts. This leaf is Wang Xizhi's letters to Yuan Hong and some other friends, collected in the Song dynasty album of calligraphy rubbings Chun Hua Ge Tie (The Compendia of Selected Calligraphy Works from the Imperial Archives of the Chunhua Reign). This work features characters executed in an elegant variety of slanted forms with graceful and fluid brushstrokes, exuding a radiant and refined appeal.

This is a written sutra found in the Library Cave in Mogao Caves, which housed tens of thousands of documents dated from Jin (266-420) to Song (960-1279) dynasties. This is the ninth volume of Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra translated by the Northern Liang (397-460) Buddhist monk Dharmakṣema and written by a Tang dynasty calligrapher on a piece of yellow-dyed paper coated with wax. This scroll features thick and firm brushstrokes composed with orderly elegance, exhibiting a style similar to Chu Suiliang's. This is an excellent work of written sutra of the Tang dynasty.

Yu Shinan (558-638), also known by his zi (designated name) Boshi, was native to Yuyao, Zhejiang province. He served as the assistant director of Archive and Library in the court and was conferred the rank "Duke of Yongxing county". A student of Zhiyong and adept in calligraphy, Yu was praised as one of the "Four Masters of Early Tang". This is the epigraph for the third daughter of Emperor Taizong of Tang. The brushstrokes are light and loose. He wrote the epigraph in the tenth year (636) of the Zhenguan era at the age of 79. There is also a speculation that this was a copy made by Mi Fu.

Su Shi (1037-1101), native to Meishan of Meizhou (nowadays Meizhou, Sichuan province), was also known by his zi (designated name) Zizhan and his hao (literary name) Dongpo Jushi. He was a renowned writer, calligrapher, and painter in the Northern Song dynasty. As a calligrapher, he was one of the "Four Masters of Song". This eulogy was written by Su Shi and his younger brother Su Zhe in memory of their friend Huang Haoqian. The scroll was calligraphed in the second year (1087) of the Yuanyou era when Su Shi was 51.

Mi Fu (1051-1107) is also known by his zi (designated name) Yuanzhang and hao (literary name) Haiyue Waishi. His ancestral home was in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. He later moved to Xiangyang, Hubei province and settled in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. Mi Fu was adept in painting and calligraphy, as well as art authentication. As one of the "Four Masters of Song", he learned from various traditions and developed his own style. He wrote this poem when he visited the Duo Jing Lou (Duojing Pavilion) in Ganlu Temple on Mountain Beigu in Zhenjiang. This work is a masterpiece written by Mi Fu in large characters.

Wei Liaoweng (1178-1237) is also known by his zi (designated name) Huafu and hao (literary name) Heshan. A native to Pujiang county in Qiongzhou, he became a jinshi (a candidate passing the palace civil-examination) in the fifth year (1199) of the Qingyuan era, and served in the Bureau of Military Affairs. Wei was skilled in seal, clerical, running, and cursive scripts. This work is a letter to Zhao Fan that discussed government and military affairs, written with smooth brushstrokes in an unaffected style. The calligrapher wrote this letter at the age of 48 in the first year (1225) of the Baoqing era.

Yang Weizhen (1297-1370) is also known by his zi (designated name) Lianfu and hao (literary name) Tieya. A native to Zhuji (nowadays in Shaoxing) in Zhejiang province, he became a jinshi (a candidate passing the palace civil-examination) in the fourth year (1327) of the Taiding era and became an official in Hangzhou. During the late Yuan dynasty, he moved to Songjiang (in today's Shanghai) to escape from turmoil. His calligraphy exudes the style of early cursive script. This scroll, written in the calligrapher's later years, is a notice for raising alms for the Zhenjing Temple which was in Pudong, Shanghai. The characters were executed in an archaic and eccentric style.

Feng Zizhen (1257 - after 1337) is also known by his zi (designated name) Zizhen and hao (literary name) Haisu. Native to You county in Hunan province, he worked as a literary consultant in the Jixian Hall in the court. He was adept in running script and inherited the Song dynasty calligraphy that valued expressive aesthetics. This work is his Poem with Preface for Zhu Junbi, written with firm and strong brushstrokes. Zhu Yu, also known by his zi Junbi, was adept in painting. This scroll was written in the fourth (1327) year of the Taiding era when Feng Zizhen was 71.

Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322) is also known by his zi (designated name) Zi'ang, hao (literary name) Songxue Daoren. A native to Wuxing (nowadays Huzhou, Zhejiang province), he was the 11^th generation descendant of Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of Song. He was a hanlin scholar (the emperor's literary retinue) in the Yuan dynasty court, and was conferred as the Duke of Wei. He obtained the posthumous name "Wenmin", which was an honorous name for the scholars. Adept in calligraphy, he was skilled in all scripts and led a profoundly influential trend in the art of calligraphy. This album is a collection of his letters to his friends and relatives including Fei Gongchen and Wu Guan. These letters were written during his middle to later years.

Ni Zan (1306-1374) is also known by his zi (designated name) Yuanzhen and hao (literary name) Yunlin, native to Wuxi in Jiangsu province. He led a reclusive life near Lake Tai, fleeing from wars at the end of the Yuan dynasty. Adept in regular and running scripts, Ni Zan was one of the "Four Masters of Yuan". Written in his middle years, this scroll is Ni Zan's letter to Shen You who styled himself Mo'an. The work is accomplished with wet ink and elegant brushstrokes, showcasing a rustic and calming style.

Song Ke (1327-1387) is also known by his zi (designated name) Zhongwen and hao (literary name) Nangongsheng, native to Wu county in Jiangsu province. One of the "Ten Friends of Beiguo", he was adept in small regular script and early cursive script. Song Ke wrote this work during a visit to his friend Xu Yanming, transcribing poems from the Tang and Song dynasties. The characters are characterized by firm and swift brushstrokes in a fluid style. Song Ke wrote this work at the age of 34 in the 20^th year (1360) of the Zhizheng era.

Liu Jue (1410-1472) is also known by his zi (designated name) Tingmei and hao (literary name) Wan'an, native to Changzhou (nowadays Suzhou in Jiangsu province). A juren (a successful candidate of provincial civil-examination) in the third year (1438) of the Zhengtong era, Liu became an official in Shanxi province. Adept in painting and calligraphy, he learned regular and running scripts from styles of Zhao Mengfu and Li Yong. This work is a transcription of the poem Revisiting Huanghe Pavilion on a Snowy Day by the Ming dynasty poet Yang Ji. The brushstrokes are dynamic with sharp turns. The calligrapher wrote the work at the age of 57 in the second year (1466) of the Chenghua reign.

Wen Zhengming (1470-1559), originally named Bi, is also known by his zi (designated name) Zhengzhong and hao (literary name) Hengshan, a native of Changzhou (nowadays Suzhou, Jiangsu province). He was adept in all scripts, especially skilled in small regular script. This prose by the artist himself was written to celebrate the birthday of Hua Qixiang, father of Hua Yun. The work employs wet ink and elegant brushstrokes. Wen Zhengming wrote it at the age of 62 in the tenth year (1531) of the Jiajing era.

Chen Xianzhang (1428-1500), native to Xinhui in Guangdong, is also known by his zi (designated name) Gongfu and hao (literary name) Baishazi. He was a founder of the Neo-Confucianism that developed in the Ming dynasty. A juren (a successful candidate of the provincial civil-examination) in the 12^th year (1447) of the Zhengtong reign, Chen was appointed as an official in Hanlin Academy (a governmental institute on of higher learning). Adept in calligraphy, he was especially skilled in running and cursive scripts and renowned for writing with thatch brushes. This work is a quatrain by himself, rendered with expressive brushstrokes in boldly expansive structures.

Zhu Yunming (1406-1526) is also known by his zi (designated name) Xizhe and hao (literary name) Zhishan, a native of Suzhou in Jiangsu province. He was once the Governor of Xingning county in Guangdong province. Adept in all scripts, Zhu was praised as the "top calligrapher of the nation" by his contemporaries, especially reputed for his wild cursive script. This calligraphy work is a transcription of the Odes to the Red Cliff by Su Shi with unrestrained and expressive brushstrokes. The characters are boldly structured in dynamic forms beyond conventions, creating unexpected effects. This is a representative work of Zhu Yunming in his later years.

Wang Chong (1494-1533), a native of Suzhou in Jiangsu, is also known by his zi (designated name) Lüji and hao (literary name) Yayi Shanren. He was adept in running and cursive script, especially skilled in small regular script. In this scroll, the calligrapher wrote 19 Han dynasty yuefu poems (lyrics of folk songs) with firm and brisk brushstrokes in an effortlessly elegant manner. This work was written in the sixth year (1527) of the Jiajing reign when the artist was 34.

Dong Qichang (1555-1636), a native of Huating (nowadays Songjiang, Shanghai), is also known by his zi (designated name) Xuanzai, his hao (literary name) Xiangguang Jushi, and posthumous title Wenmin. A jinshi (a successful candidate of imperial civil-examination) in the 17^th year (1589) of the Wanli reign, he served as the Minister of Rites in Nanjing. Dong Qichang was adept in regular, running, and cursive scripts. This work employed firm and vigorous brushstroke, showcasing an archaic taste. He wrote this work at the age of 76 in the third year (1630) of the Chongzhen reign. It is regarded as the representative large script work of Dong Qichang.

Fu Shan (1607-1684), originally named Dingchen, is also known by his zi (designated name) Qingzhu and hao (literary name) Zhenshan, native to Taiyuan, Shanxi province. He was a calligrapher, philosopher, and medical expert. After the Ming dynasty collapsed, he led a reclusive life and focused on studies, painting, and calligraphy. This scroll is a transcription of a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu.

Zhao Zhiqian (1829-1884) is also known by his zi (designated name) Huishu and hao (literary name) Bei'an, native to Kuaiji (nowadays Shaoxing, Zhejiang province). A juren (a successful candidate passing the provincial civil-service examination) in the ninth year (1859) of the Xianfeng reign, he was once the Governor of Boyang. Zhao was adept at various scripts and developed his own style through studying the steles of the Northern Dynasties. This is an excerpt of Shi You's Ji Jiu Pian (an educational book for children) in the Western Han dynasty, accomplished with full and firm brushstrokes with a rustic style. Zhao wrote this work at the age of 37 in the fourth year (1865) of the Tongzhi reign.

Zhu Da (1626-1705), originally named Tongquan, is also known by his hao (literary name) Xuege and Bada Shanren, native to Nanchang, Jiangxi province. This work includes Anecdotes of the Song Dynasty, Responding to Zhao Nianweng's Comments on the Inkstone, and excerpts from Wang Xizhi's Lanting Xu and Chu Suiliang's Yanta Shengjiao Xu. He wrote the work at the age of 68 in the 32^nd year (1693) of the Kangxi reign.

Jin Nong (1687-1763) is also known by his zi (designated name) Shoumen and hao (literary name) Dongxin Xiansheng. He was a native of Renhe (nowadays Hangzhou), Zhejiang province, but later moved to Yangzhou. Adept in painting, calligraphy, and seal carving, Jin Nong had a big collection of art and was particularly interested in ancient steles and inscription rubbings. He was one of the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou". This calligraphy was written with round and clear brushstrokes, exuding a dynamic style, similar to that of writings on ancient bamboo and wood slips.

Liu Yong (1719-1805) is also known by his zi (designated name) Chongru and hao (literary name) Shi'an, native to Zhucheng, Shandong province. A jinshi (a successful candidate of imperial civil-examination) in the 16^th year (1751) of the Qianlong reign, he was once the Grand Secretariat. Liu was a representative calligrapher focusing on model calligraphy study. This calligraphy is a transcription of Su Shi's poem responding to a monk in a trip to Tangquan in Mountain Lu. The work is characterized by rich ink with firm structures.

Weng Fanggang (1733-1818) is also known by his zi (designated name) Zhengsan and hao (literary name) Tanxi, native to Daxingin Beijing. He was a skilled calligrapher and also connoisseur of epigraphs and inscriptions on antiquities. Weng learned his style from Ouyang Xun and Yu Shinan, strictly following the rules of old calligraphy masters. This scroll showcases gentle and firm brushstrokes in balanced structures with occasional lively movements. It was calligraphed in the sixth year (1801) of the Jiaqing reign when Weng was 69.

Huang Yi (1744-1802) is also known by his zi (designated name) Dayi and hao (literary name) Xiaosong, native to Renhe (Hangzhou), Zhejiang province. He was the Deputy Governor of Jining in Shandong. Adept in poetry and literature, he excelled in epigraphy and seal carving. Huang was one of the "Eight Masters of Xilin". This scroll does not present the vigorous brushstrokes and bold structures of the original Shimen Song. Instead, it features gentle brushstrokes and balanced structures with a refined appeal, indicating that the calligrapher drew inspiration from the original work other than simply copying the appearance.

Kang Youwei (1858-1927), is also known by his zi (designated name) Guangsha and later hao (literary name) Changsu. A native of Nanhai in Guangdong, he was also called "Kang Nanhai". Kang was a prominent statesman, philosopher, and educator. Adept in calligraphy, he advocated the study of steles from the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties. He was the author of Guang Yizhou Shuangji. This is an excerpt from Jiao Yanshou's Yilin of the Western Han dynasty, written with dynamic brushstrokes in an expansive momentum.

Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), originally named Jun, later changed his name to Junqing. He is also known by his hao (literary name) Foulu. He used his zi (designated name) Changshuo for literary activities after he was 70. Native to Anji (nowadays in Zhejiang province), he later settled in Shanghai. Wu was the first president of the Xiling Seal Engraving Society, an important academic society for studying ancient stele, seal, and engraving. This scroll transcribes the inscription on the first of the 12 stone drums from the pre-Qin period. The characters were executed with strong and vigorous brushstrokes. Wu Changshuo wrote this work in 1917 at the age of 74.

Luo Zhenyu (1866-1940), a native of Shangyu in Zhejiang, is also known by his zi (designated name) Shuyan and hao (literary name) Xuetang and later hao Zhensong Laoren. He was an archaeologist, epigrapher, and scholar on ancient Chinese characters. Luo was adept in seal script and had a profound knowledge of oracle bones and ancient bronze inscriptions. This work copies the inscription on the bronze vessel Xiao Chen Zhai Gui (now in the collection of the National Museum of China) with well-balanced structures and robust brushstrokes.

Yu Youren (1879-1964), is also known by his zi (designated name) Boxun and hao (literary name) Taipin Laoren, native to Sanyuan, Shaanxi province. He was one of the founders of modern Chinese higher education. Yu was adept in regular, running, and cursive scripts, advocating the standardization of cursive script. This work is accomplished with strong and robust brushstrokes, inspired by the style of Wei dynasty steles. He wrote this work at the age of 72 in 1950.

ShenYimo (1880-1942), originally named Junmo, is also known by his zi (designated name) Zhong and his hao (literary name) Qiuming, native to Huzhou, Zhejiang province. He was a calligrapher and educator, adept in regular, running, and cursive scripts. Yu Youren and Shen Yinmo were collectively called "Shen of the South and Yu of the North". He followed the style of the "Two Wangs". This work wrote the quotation of the Tang dynasty monk Dazhu Huihai with open structures and an elegant style, exuding a peaceful and harmonious appeal.

Pan Tianshou (1897-1971), originally named Tianshou with a different character for "shou", is also known by his zi (designated name) Dayi and his hao (literary name) Ashou, native to Ninghai, Zhejiang province. Pan was a painter and prominent educator, obtaining instructions from Wu Changshuo. Pan was the Vice President of China Artist Association and the Principal of Zhejiang Academy of Art. This work is a paragraph from the painting theory, accomplished with strong and decisive brushstrokes. Pan Tianshou wrote this work at the age of 51 in 1947.