Forest of Stele Museum of Xi’an is located at the three school (15 Sanxue) street which is near the south gate of magnificent City Wall. It was established in the year 1090 during the period of northern Song Dynasty. The Stele Forest Museum of Xi’an is famous nationally for the fine and large collection of over one thousand inscribed stones which was engraved during the 2000 year period of the Han Dynasty to Qing Dynasty. It is one of the best places for getting closer to the history and culture of China.
Forest of Stele Museum
This museum is spread over the area of more than 30,000 square meters and is divided into seven main exhibition halls displaying historical records, stone carvings and ancient work of calligraphy.
The Exhibition Hall displays the text of the twelve confucian classic carved on the 14 steles The 12 works include the Book of Changes, Analects of Confucius, the Book of Songs and some others. All of these twelve classics are very much intersting to read for intellectuals to know about the feudal society o china. The stones were engraved about two thousnad years ago and at that time printing was not invented. For preserving these works and the pass them to the later generation, the rulers vave carved them on to these stones.
Hall two has the calligraphy steles which were written by some of the prominent calligraphers of the China’s Tanag Dynasty. The Dynasty of Tang has witenessed the wide creativity in various fields. The classic calligraphy of China has reached in the gloden age during this period. You can find many works of Yan Zhenqing, Zhang Xu, Ouyang Xun and many other ancient calligraphers in this hall.
Third Hall also exhihits excellent works of calligraphy. The steles inscribed have five different varieties of calligraphy i.e. seal characters, regular script, official script, cursive hand and running hand. These steles will give you the clear idea about the development of the Chinese writing. These calligraphy of China are very much important part of magnificent culture of China and these stone tablets have become an important way to explore the long and magical ancient culture of China.
Forest of Stele Museum
Hall four have various sculpture of stones and these are the works of Han Dynaty to the Tang Dynasty. These sculpture inclueds various portraits of Buddha and confucius. Hall five displayes some of the historical records engraved in steles and many poems are displayed in the Hall Six and Seven.