Preface to the Sacred Teachings [Chinese calligraphy]

Chu Suiliang (596–658 CE) was a prominent statesman and calligrapher of the early Tang Dynasty, celebrated for his elegant, refined, and rhythmically fluid style of regular script (kaishu). His masterpiece, the Yanta Shengjiao Xu (Preface to the Sacred Teachings at the Wild Goose Pagoda), was inscribed on stone in 653 CE at the request of Emperor Gaozong to honor the translation of Buddhist scriptures by the monk Xuanzang who went alone to India to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures.

Carved on the south wall of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an, this stele exemplifies Chu’s signature style – graceful yet structured, with slender yet resilient brushstrokes, subtle modulation of line thickness, and dynamic spacing. It became a cornerstone model for kaishu learners and reflects the golden age of Tang calligraphy.