“The heaviest collection of books in the world…’”
It is widely believed that the Chinese written language originated from characters etched onto oracle bones around 1300 – 1046 B.C. Just as the scripts evolved, so did the medium on which they were written. The concept of the permanent stone tablet or stele to record important events was introduced before the Qin period (221-206 B.C.), though it didn’t gain momentum until the Tang dynasty (618-907). The Forest of Steles museum represents the oldest and richest collection of such tablets in China. Over 3000 steles trace the development of Chinese civilization.
As the prosperous Tang dynasty drew to a close in 904 A.D. the tablets were collected and moved between various safe locations. They were finally housed in a purpose built facility in 1087 and have remained there ever since, surviving numerous earthquakes and political turmoil. In 1937 the site became a national museum and was redesigned by famous Chinese architect Liang Sicheng. This ensured its survival during the subsequent Cultural Revolution.
The steles comprise of works of literature and philosophy, historical records, calligraphy and pictures. A pavilion at the southern entrance contains the largest singular tablet in the collection known as “the stone-based classic on filial piety.” This excerpt from the Confucian classics was engraved from a hand written copy by Emperor Xuanzong in 745. The exhibition begins with the twelve “Kaicheng Stone Confucian Classics” from the Tang (618-907), considered essential reading for any traditional scholar. During this period the country underwent a renaissance of creativity. A notable piece carved in 781 records the beginnings of the Nestorian church in China. The Nestorians were Christians who spread into China on the Silk Road. Subsequent halls contain a rich collection of tablets from the Han to the Song (206 B.C. – 1279 A.D.) with different styles tracing the evolution of written Chinese.