The Buddhist Stele dedicated by Juqu Anzhou and The Northern Liang Style calligraphy

Abstract

An important stone stele Buddhist Votive Stele Dedicated by Juqu Anzhou, the Great King of Northern Liang 涼王大且渠安周造寺功德碑 dated 449 CE was excavated at Gaochang in 1902. The inscription was engraved in a very unique and vigorous calligraphy style. This style of writing was also seen in written materials for other purposes, such as Buddhist stone stūpas or manuscripts of the same period. Art historian defined it as "Northern Liang Style" 北涼體. Based upon a detailed examination and analysis of calligraphic style from the dated Buddhist manuscripts and stone inscriptions before 500 CE, the paper first explores the important role of early foreign calligraphers in China. The Northern Liang Style was influenced by Buddhist monk scribes from Central Asia who specialized in writing bilingual or multi-language scripts. The Northe rn Liang king Juqu Mengxun 沮渠蒙遜 and the eminent monk Dharmakṣema 曇無讖 were two major figures in promoting Buddhism in the Hexi corridor. As a result of state sponsorship, an imperial taste Northern Liang Style appeared and it was applied in Buddhist manuscripts by some court scribes as official writing in the national translation center of the Northern Liang. In addition, at least five pieces of Buddhist sūtras excavated at Gaochang were dedicated by Juqu Anzhou 沮渠安周 during 445—457 CE, successor to the throne in Gaochang. He was the first king who dedicated and copied Buddhist sūtras in the history of Chinese Buddhism. The development of an imperial taste Northern Liang Style calligraphy and the offering of Buddhist sūtras by a king showed that the Northern Liang government had strong determination in promoting Buddhism. A solid foundation was laid by the establishment of an organized Buddhist texts translation system as well as a systematized literary or secretarial system. These efforts had a far-reaching impact in the Northern Wei period and later.