A Close Look At The Literati's Taste Of Ink Stones In The Middle-late Qing Dynasty-a Study Of Wang Xiang's Reproduction Of Yan Shi

This paper mainly discusses the process of Wang Xiang 's reproduction of Yan Shi,and on this basis,makes an in-depth study of the literati's taste in ink stones and the gravers at that time.Yan Shi was made by Gao Feng Han,he selected some of the best ink stones from his collection and make rubbings which make up most part of Yan Shi.One hundred years later,Wang Xiang read the relevant narrative in the Guochaohuazhenglu.He yearned for it and wanted to pass it down to future generations.Then he got Yan Shi from Gao's descendants,and he asked Wang Zi Ruo to copy it on the stone.Unfortunately however,hadn't Wang Zi Ruo finish half of the Yan Shi,he died of illness.Wang Xiang had to ask Wu Xi Zai to complete the unfinished parts.Although Wu Xi Zai enjoyed a great reputation at that time,he didn't take it seriously and made a hasty work.Although Wang Xiang was dissatisfied with this copy,he had no choice but to accept it and modify it a little.Wang Xiang also compiled his correspondence with Wang Zi Ruo into a book called Mokeyanshishoudu,which was intended to convey Wang Zi Ruo's painstaking efforts in later generations and encourage future generations.Through Mokeyanshishoudu,We can study the process of facsimileing from the point of view of the gravers,see the literati's taste in ink stones at that time,and understand the social strata of the gravers at that time.