This rubbing is closely related to rubbing. The so-called rubbing is to soak a piece of tough tissue paper in advance, then apply it on the stone tablet, tap it gently with a brush to make the paper enter the opening, and use it after the paper is dry.
Dip the brush into ink, pat it gently and evenly to make the ink evenly coat the paper, then peel off the paper, and a rubbing with white characters on the black ground is completed. This method of copying text is called
"Rubbing". It is a process of printing stone or wood carvings on paper and ink for preservation and dissemination. The paper used for rubbing is also a rubbing.
Rubbing has a long history in China. As early as 2000 BC, records of important events have been engraved on bone plates or bronzes. They can also be engraved on bricks, ceramics, wood, and jade to preserve text and images. However, they are most commonly used for long inscriptions.
The material is stone. Among several large-scale projects carried out to preserve authoritative writings, the most massive one was the inscription of more than 4 million words of Buddhist scriptures on 7137 stone tablets or stone tablets from 605 AD to 1096 AD. Here
Previously, from 175 to 183 AD, more than 200,000 words of the Seven Confucian Classics had been engraved on the front and back of 46 stone tablets, which established and preserved the standard template for such writings by scholars and officials in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The subsequent six dynasties also each had their own efforts to engrave Confucian classics, and the Qing Dynasty at the end of the 18th century was the most successful. The cliff faces where the palaces and temples are located were also used to engrave giant religious sentences.
There is no record in history about the origin of rubbing technique. There are different opinions so far, making it difficult to conclude. Most people believe that rubbing technique began in the Xiping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. But one thing is certain, that is, the emergence of rubbing technique.
It must have appeared after the invention of paper, and the rubbing method has a very ancient origin and appeared earlier than engraving printing. In the Sui Dynasty, the rubbing technology of characters was already very developed, which also shows that rubbing technology appeared before that.
By the Tang Dynasty, the rubbing technique had become more developed. Not only were there private rubbing workshops, but the government also set up a special rubbing agency.
Luo Tian took a look at the rubbing under the light and said with a smile: "It is indeed a rubbing from the Song Dynasty."
Chen Pingfan wanted to see Luo Tian's ability and asked, "Why?"
Luo Tian said: "The characteristics of the rubbings of each dynasty are different. Take the Ming Dynasty as an example. Most of them imitated the Song Dynasty method. For rubbing the inscriptions, they generally used thick paper with thick rubbing ink. For rubbings, they were generally made of yellow or yellow.
Or white paper, the rubbing ink is light or thick. In addition, in the Ming Dynasty, there were also coal rubbing and glue rubbing. Commonly known as coal rubbing. This coal rubbing method is mostly used for rubbing larger inscriptions.
Especially suitable for cliffs.”
Chen Pingfan nodded repeatedly: "That's right, what about the Qing Dynasty?"
"The rubbings in the early Qing Dynasty followed the Ming Dynasty rubbing method and were almost similar to the rubbings in the late Ming Dynasty," Luo Tian said: "The Qing Dynasty used the Qianlong rubbings as the most refined. One of the reasons is that the Ming Dynasty left some good ink. During the Qianlong period, except for
In addition to using the best ink as raw material, they also mixed ink from the Ming Dynasty. Because of the old ink and new pen, the written characters are both bright and dark. Since the ink in the Qianlong period surpassed that of the Yuan Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty paid great attention to rubbing techniques, the Qianlong rubbings
It is very exquisite. Especially the ink from the Qianlong period is the most precious when used as Wujin rubbings. For example, the initial rubbings of "Sanxitang Dharma Tie" are all dark and shiny. It is best to use these initial rubbings.
Rubbings were awarded to some ministers, perhaps dozens or one or two hundred. When rubbing, the best ink from Qianlong was used, the stone surface was smooth, and the rubbings were made of black gold, so the rubbings can be said to be dazzling to the eye."
Chen Pingfan was convinced, and then returned to his own rubbings: "Then, why did Mr. Luo know that it was from the Song Dynasty just by looking at it?"
"The good paper used for rubbing in the Song Dynasty was beaten instead of rubbing up and down. When reflected under the light, the edges of the strokes of the font can be seen to be three-dimensional; this kind of rubbing can maintain the original shape of the characters and prevent the glyphs from being lost. Cliff or
Larger tablets cannot be hammered but rubbed. There is another process in Song Dynasty rubbings: brushing Sichuan wax on the rubbings, so that white traces can be seen." Luo Tian said: "I looked at the light just now.
I want to see if the edges of the font strokes have a three-dimensional effect."
"I'm willing to listen to you again." Chen Pingfan immediately became respectful: "No wonder you let "Big Player" interview you repeatedly. It's really extraordinary."
"No, no, there are actually many people who are better than me, such as Teacher Huang Lide, who is my senior." Luo Tian continued: "Exquisite Song rubbings are priceless. That's what Huang Tingjian of the Song Dynasty said
It was once said: "The Zhenguan engraving on the Yu stele in the Confucius Temple can be purchased with a thousand taels of gold." There are only a few Song rubbings left in the country, but the total number exceeds the Tang rubbings. Among these handed down Song rubbings, generally speaking, there are many stele inscriptions.
There are few, and most of the steles are Han and Tang steles, especially the Tang steles. This rubbing by Mr. Chen is a rubbing of a Tang stele."
"What about the forgery of the Song rubbings?"
"Use good paper and good ink to make some new rubbings, and then use the steaming method, which is to smoke the old rubbings. The specific method is to brush the paper with yellowish brown, then steam it, and put it in a moist place.
Let it become moldy and frosty, and then ventilate it to absorb the moisture. After the above operations, it is processed into the shape of Song Tuo. It is then framed, added with a coat, and decorated with Song or Ming brocade, and it can be
As Song Tuo, as for how to identify it, it is the method I just mentioned."
Chen Pingfan nodded repeatedly: "Great, great, today is really...listening to your words is better than ten years of reading. Please give me the Song rubbings."
Although Mr. Lunt did not understand Chinese, judging from the looks of the two of them, he estimated that this rubbing was something extraordinary, and he smiled broadly. After all the trouble, the matter was finally solved. Chen Pingfan thanked Luo Tian
For such an objective evaluation of his rubbings, Mr. Lunt also thanked him for solving the matter, which gave the company another unusual item to be auctioned. Luo Tian was a little tired of these social remarks. After these days, he wanted to do it too much.
Relax a bit.
After sending Chen Pingfan away, Luo Tian thought he could relax for a while. Unexpectedly, Si Ren came to his door again. He left a message for himself at the front desk, inviting him to watch a geisha performance. Luo Tian changed his head into two.
Being a big man, he really doesn’t want to socialize anymore, but is it okay if he doesn’t go?
Luo Tian could only say hello to his master again and told Hong Luo to take care of his master, while he prepared to go out alone. At the appointed time, as soon as Luo Tian walked out of the hotel door, a car came to pick him up.
Tian got into the car and saw that Si Ren was already sitting inside. Si Ren said, "I thought you were leaving, so I'll treat you as farewell tonight, right?"