Mengxiaoju Tablet in Zhaoyang District, Zhaotong
Chinese Name: 昭通昭阳区孟孝琚碑
English Name: Mengxiaoju Tablet in Zhaoyang District, Zhaotong
The “Mengxiaoju Tablet” (孟孝琚碑) is an ancient Han Dynasty inscription, also known as the “Mengxian Fragment” or “Meng Guangzong Tablet.” It is a piece of clerical script (隶书) with no known author and is currently located in the Wenxuan Community of Zhaotong, Yunnan.
Description
The tablet measures 133 cm in height, 96 cm in width, and approximately 24 cm in thickness. It features dragon and tiger motifs on the sides, with turtle and snake patterns at the base. The inscription consists of 15 lines of text. Notably, the 5th line contains 3 characters, the 13th line is blank, the 14th line has 16 characters, and the 15th line has 10 characters. The remaining lines each have 21 characters, totaling 260 surviving characters. The inscription details the life and achievements of Mengxiaoju, the son of a magistrate from the Han Dynasty’s Wuyang.
Inscription Content
Translation:
On the day of Bing Shen in the Lunar Month of Lin Mao, Meng Guangzong, the grandson of the Wuyang Magistrate, passed away. …Thus. Guangzong lost his mother at the age of four and entered officialdom at twelve. He studied the “Han Poems” and was well-versed in two volumes of the “Classic of Filial Piety,” with a broad understanding of… He changed his name to Xian, styled as Xiaoxiu, lamenting his simple and benevolent nature, seeking to marry He Yanzhen’s daughter from Shu County, but died unmarried… In the tenth month of Gui Mao, he was buried west of the tomb, and on the 11th month of Yi Mao, he was peacefully laid to rest. Cherishing the memory, he thought… His epitaph reads: …The seasons are not harmonious, and harmful airs proliferate. Alas, what wrong has fate done, to meet such illness. In the middle of the night, he suddenly passed away… Alone, he suddenly went on a distant journey. He is about to enter the dark realm and return to the Lightning Hill. The cool wind penetrates, and the cold water flows north… Ah, how painful for the benevolent, whose virtue is abundant. Confucius, the great sage, adhered to the way but was troubled in the world… Deep waters also faced such calamities. Maintaining goodness without success has been common since ancient times. Not only Xiaoxiu, but many have faced numerous calamities. … Regretfully, the will was not fulfilled, the name is preserved. Despite his death, his beauty and reputation continue. May his pure intentions be praised, and his kindness extend to future generations. May the seasonal sacrifices and offerings continue. May his legacy remain for ten thousand years, and his achievements inspire later generations. … Missing offspring, Yan Lu wept for Kong Ni Yu. Dantai angrily threw himself into the river, as the world shows no sympathy…
Epigraph by Xie Chongji:
The tablet was excavated near Baidi Well in Zhaotong County in the 27th year of Guangxu (1901). It was moved to the Wenxuan Community of Zhaotong City and later placed in the local experimental middle school. Afterward, it was moved to the experimental primary school, and currently, it is located in the Wenxuan Community. In 1965, the Yunnan Provincial People’s Committee designated it as a first-class provincial cultural relic protection unit. On May 25, 2006, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China listed it as a sixth batch of national key cultural relic protection units (No. IV-51).
Historical Background
According to the inscription, Mengxiaoju, having studied the “Han Poems” and mastered the “Classic of Filial Piety,” changed his name to Xian and was styled Xiaoxiu. He was betrothed to the daughter of He Yanzhen from Shu County but died before marriage. The inscription was carved by a subordinate official to commemorate Mengxiaoju and console his family. Based on the tablet’s form, text style, and script, it is dated to the Han Dynasty. The year of death, indicated as “Bing Shen” in the lunar calendar, aligns with several possible years in the Han Dynasty. Scholars have debated the precise date, with most leaning towards the Han Dynasty’s Huan Emperor period (156 AD) or the subsequent year.
Artistic Appreciation
Style:
The “Mengxiaoju Tablet” represents a transitional period in script evolution, featuring a mix of seal script, clerical script, cursive script, and even early regular script. For example, the character “卯” in line four shows traits of seal script transitioning to clerical script, and the character “风” demonstrates unique forms rare in Han Dynasty inscriptions. Overall, the inscription’s text varies in size and form, but the overall composition and spacing are harmonious.
Reviews:
- Hu Guozhen (Qing Dynasty): The calligraphy is robust and the text refined, showing ancient style and grandeur. (From “New Compilation of Yunnan General Records – Volume 81 – Stone Inscriptions”)
- Zhao Fan (Modern Calligrapher): The tablet is the most ancient among Yunnan inscriptions, predating the Two Qian tablets. Its style is definitive of the Han Dynasty, with few comparable pieces. (From “Han Mengxiaoju Tablet Inscription”)
- Huang Ying (Qing Dynasty Official): The tablet exhibits a balanced and vigorous style, transitioning between seal and clerical scripts. Its late appearance makes it a leading example of Han inscriptions. (From “Han Mengxiaoju Tablet Inscription”)
- Wang Renjun (Qing Dynasty Historian): The text is elegant and based on ancient models, and despite some damage, it is confirmed to be from the Western Han period. (From “Han Mengxiaoju Tablet Inscription”)
- Yuan Jiagu (Modern Calligrapher): Among Yunnan’s ancient stones, the Mengxiaoju Tablet stands out, with its complete inscription offering rare insight into Han calligraphy and its evolution. (From “Han Mengxiaoju Tablet Inscription”)
How to Get There
The Mengxiaoju Tablet is located in the Wenxuan Community, Zhaotong, Yunnan. To visit, you can travel to Zhaotong City by plane or train, and from there, take a local taxi or public transportation to the Wenxuan Community. If you’re coming from the Zhaotong railway station or airport, you can use local transport services or arrange a car rental for a more convenient journey to the tablet’s location.
