開通褒斜道刻石 Baoxiedao keshi (The Opening of Baoxiedao Pathway) (66 CE) is an inscription on a cliff near Shimen (石門) in Mianxian (勉縣), southwest of Shannxi Province (陜西縣). It was made at the order of Chu Jun (鄐君), the prefect (太守) of the region to commemorate the Completion of Baoxiedao, a pathway that ran through a 258 li (里) long, deep gorge.
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石門頌 Shimen Song (Ode to Shimen ) (148 CE) was created in memory of the government official YANG Meng-wen (楊孟文) who was credited with the digging of the tunnel at Shimen, repairing and re-opening of the once blocked major pathway of Baoyedao (褒斜道) to the western part of the country.
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https://patricksiu.org/a-copy-of-ode-to-shimen-%e8%87%a8%e7%9f%b3%e9%96%80%e9%a0%8c/
乙瑛碑 Yi Ying Bei (153 CE) records how Yi Ying (乙瑛), the top official of the Lu (魯) state, proposed installing an official in charge of the Confucius Temple (孔子廟) at Qufu (曲阜), Shandong (山東) province, the birthplace of Confucius (孔子).
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https://patricksiu.org/a-study-of-yi-ying-bei-%e4%b9%99%e7%91%9b%e7%a2%91/
禮器碑 Li Qi Bei (156 CE) records how the Administrator of Lu (魯相), Han Chi (韓敇) renovated the Temple of Confucius (孔廟) and purchased ritual objects (禮器) – musical instruments and ritual vessels. Sludge was dredged from various waterways and wells to being in clear water.
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華山廟碑 Huashan Miao Bei (165 CE) was originally erected at a temple built on the top of Mount Hushan (華山), Huayin, Shaanxi province (陕西華陰). The stele carries a stone inscription that describes how ancient emperors offered sacrifices to heaven and earth on the mountains. The inscription records the name of the calligrapher Guo Xiangcha (郭香察). This is very unusual as most of the Han steles do not record the names of the calligraphers.
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鮮于璜碑 Xianyu Huang Bei (165 CE) was dedicated to Xian Yu Huang (鮮于璜). Huang was an outstanding descendant of Xian Yu Hong (鮮于弘) in the Jiaodong Kingdom (膠東王國) of the Han Dynasty (漢朝). Since childhood Huang showed filial piety to his mother and was respectful to his teacher and assiduous with his studies. Huang was selected to serve in the government. He was later promoted as the magistrate of Ganyu county (贛榆令). The people praised Huang for his kindness and he had good rapport with his colleague. Later he served as a staff to the head official of the military (太尉府). He proposed good strategy and was praised by the Emperor.
A famine broke out in Jizhou (冀州) and many people died of starvation. The Emperor appointed Huang as the envoy of Anbian (安邊節使) governing two districts. He enforced the law impartially denouncing those who perverted the law. Huang was appointed as the prefecture chief of Yanman (雁門太守). At that time, the arrogant people of Wuhuan (烏桓) started riots. Huang showed his authority and led an army to pacify the Wuhuan people. Huang made great contributions to the Han Government. Huang died early in the fourth year of Yanguang (延光四年)(125 CE). His grandsons erected the stele for him in the eighth year of Yanxi (延熹八年)(165 CE), 40 years after he died.
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史晨前碑 Shi Chen Qian Bei (169 CE) records how Shi Chen (史晨), the Administrator of Lu (魯), paid respect to the Temple of Confucius. He petitioned to have sacrifices performed for Confucius every spring and autumn.
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史晨後碑 Shi Chen Hou Bei (169 CE)
Shi Chen (史晨) made offerings at the Temple of Confucius (孔廟) upon taking up the official position at Lu. It recorded the names and the titles of the main officials present in the solemn ceremony. Shi Chen also looked after the welfare of the people. He organized the repair of the outer wall on the main road, the renovation and painting of houses, and the repair of the big ditch, etc.
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肥致碑 Fei Zhi Bei (169 CE or after) tells the story of a Taoist called Fei Zhi (肥致). He was an extraordinary person who could work wonders and overpower the evil spirits. The wonders include travelling thousands of miles in the sky in an instant and exiting between the heaven and the earth. Once in a winter month, the Emperor would like to get some fresh vegetables. In no time Fei Zhi managed to get out two bundles of fresh vegetables from the province of Shu (蜀郡) which was about 1000 kilometres away. This was indeed a miracle.
Fei Zhi had a faithful disciple called Xu You (許幼) who offered him accommodation. Fei Zhi passed away and Xu You also passed away. Xu You’s son, Xu Jian (許建) install a ‘place’ (設便坐), probably a ‘spiritual tablet’ for Fei Zhi in 169 CE.
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西狹頌 Xixia Song (Ode to Xixia Pathway)(171 CE) commemorates the reconstruction of a plank pathway or road built along the face of a cliff in Chengxian county, Gansu Province (甘肅省成縣城). It also recorded the life of Li Xi (李翕), the prefect of Wudu (武都太守) and his outstanding political and administrative achievements.
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https://patricksiu.org/a-study-of-xi-xia-song-ode-to-si-xia-pathway-%e8%a5%bf%e7%8b%b9%e9%a0%8c/
郙閣頌 Fu Ge Song (Ode to Fu Ge) (172 CE) was erected in the west bank of Jialing River 嘉陵江, formerly called Xili (析里). The passage way Fu Ge (郙閣) was the most hazardous. Li Xi (李翕), the prefect of Wudu County (武都郡太守), upgraded the hazardous roads to make them safe and stable. He also built the Xili (析里) Bridge which was a meticulous project involving precise craftsmanship. Li Xi also looked after the welfare of the people.
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https://patricksiu.org/a-study-of-fu-ge-song-%e9%83%99%e9%96%a3%e9%a0%8c/
楊淮表紀 Yang Huai Biao Ji (173 CE) records the contributions of two officials, Yang Huai (楊淮) and his brother Yang Bi (楊弼). The style of the script is similar to that of Shimen Song (石門頌). Yang Huai and Yang Bi were the grandsons of Yang Meng-wen (楊孟文) who was mentioned in Shimen Song. Meng-wen was credited with the repairing and re-opening of the once blocked major pathway of Baoyedao.
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https://patricksiu.org/a-study-of-yang-wei-biao-ji-%e6%a5%8a%e6%b7%ae%e8%a1%a8%e7%b4%80/
景雲碑 Jing Yun Bei (景雲碑)(173 CE) was unearthed in 2004 at the in Yunyang County (雲陽縣) in the Three Gorges (三峽) Area. It records the political achievements of Jing Yun (景雲), an administrator of Qu Ren (胊忍令). He managed the place very well and the people loved him dearly. Unfortunately Jing Yun died in office at a middle age in 102 CE. The people mourned him for three years. The stele were erected by the administrator of Qu Ren (胊忍令) called Yong Zhi (雍陟) in 173 CE, 70 years after the death of Jing Yun.
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曹全碑 Cao Quan Bei (185 CE) records the contributions of an official named Cao Quan (曹全). He was a descendant of a highly educated and respectable family and his ancestors held important offices in the government. Since childhood, Cao Quan studied extensively. He took various offices in the government. Being upright and uncorrupted, he set a role model and inspired his colleague. Besides coordinating administrative work in the government, Cao was also competent in military operations with good plans and strategies. He conquered and pacified the alien land. He fought against the rebels and restored law and order. Cao empathised with the needs of the people.
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https://patricksiu.org/cao-quan-bei-stele-%e6%9b%b9%e5%85%a8%e7%a2%91/
張遷碑 Zhang Qian Bei (186 CE) records the contributions of Zhang Qian’s ancestors in the Han Dynasty. Zhang Qian held significant office in the government. He was an upright official with good strategic administrative skills. He served as the county magistrate of Gucheng (穀城縣長) for eight years. He was diligent and cared for the people. The people enjoyed peace and prosperity and had a great rapport of him. Zhang Qian was later appointed as the magistrate (縣令) of Dangyin County (蕩陰縣). The people of Gucheng (穀城) farewelled him and erected a stele to commemorate the achievements of Zhang Qian.
The shape of the characters of Zhang Qian Bei is square and robust (剛健). The strokes are sharp and angular (稜角分明). This style of writing is called fang bei (方筆 ‘square pen’).
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Patrick Siu Chinese Calligraphy & Landscape Painting 蕭燿漢談書畫 