Modern Social Science Research

Wang Sengqian's On Calligraphy from the Southern Qi Dynasty is a significant yet complex early Chinese theoretical text on calligraphy, marked by intricate textual issues and profound influence. Its transmission, textual composition, authorship, and intellectual connotations have long attracted scholarly attention, with considerable divergence in interpretations. In modern times, scholars such as Zhang Tiangong, Cong Wenjun, and Xue Longchun have systematically examined On Calligraphy from distinct perspectives—textual criticism, authenticity analysis, and explication of calligraphic thought—employing different source materials, argumentative approaches, and reaching varied conclusions. This paper centers on the research of these three scholars, synthesizing their main viewpoints and evidentiary bases. Through comprehensive textual analysis and comparative methodology, it investigates the relevant scholarly debates and explores the complexity of the On Calligraphy text by juxtaposing different research orientations.

Wang Sengqian; Xiao Ziliang; On Calligraphy; Notes