Zheng Daozhao And Yunfeng Inscriptions

Yunfeng Mountain inscriptions are called by late generations as "Cliff Inscription of North Wei Dynasty's Zheng Daozhao" or "Yunfeng Inscription". Yunfeng, Longmen and Four Cliff of Zou County are 3 mines for study of calligraphy of Northern Wei Dynasty and take an important position in China's calligraphy history. Since the Qing Dynasty, lots of researchers have studied Yunfeng inscription. During study, much puzzlement appeared and no conclusions have been made so far though there are different ideas and comments. Maine puzzlements are:Who painted the inscription? Why Zheng Daozhao's book was never mentioned in the history? Why these inscriptions locate at remote mountains?I collected great quantity of materials and found that most of the treatises just cited those limited history materials when analyzing Zheng's style and others. However, original material about Zheng is simple and brief and research about Zheng and his works by late generation are numerous and complicated. Most of us cannot have a clear idea about Zheng after reading these materials. Therefore, I disregard all the detailed analysis about Zheng's style and only take some key points to introduce Zheng and Yunfeng inscription, including his life, history background of that time, comments from other calligraphers and main puzzlements. When analyzing those puzzles, I take popular view in the circle and give a detailed explanation as well as my own view to it. All my efforts are to give a clear view on Yunfeng Inscription and hope we can do further study in this field. As for inevitable errors, advices are welcomed.