Tang Wang Zhijing Jingang jing (The Diamond Sutra copied by Wang Zhijing)

Ink rubbing books served as manuals for learning and copying the masterpieces of the past, an essential practice of Chinese calligraphy. The ancient calligraphic works were preserved by carefully carving them into stone, from which ink rubbings could be made and widely disseminated. This ink rubbing was made from a Tang dynasty (618–907) carving of a fourth-century calligraphy, and compiled into a book around the turn of the twentieth century.Wang Zhijing is the courtesy name of Wang Xianzhi (344–386), whose calligraphy was admired for its artistic innovation, assertiveness and elegance. Wang Xianzhi was the seventh and youngest son of Wang Xizhi (303–361), the great calligraphy master of the Jin dynasty who famously wrote one of the most important works of the Chinese calligraphy canon, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering. (“Xu Bing: The Character of Characters,” curated by Ellen Avril and presented at the Johnson Museum August 11-December 23, 2018)