A Philological Textual Research on He Shaoji's Epigraphic Colophons

Abstract

Since the Qing dynasty, during the scholarly flourishing of the Qianlong and Jiaqing eras, evidential scholars inherited the spirit of rigorous inquiry and clear discernment from their predecessors, channeling it into academic colophons. He Shaoji's epigraphic colophons carried forward the legacy of earlier scholars, following the research approaches of epigraphists since the Song dynasty. His colophons took various forms, either as short notes or as postscripts. The content of He Shaoji's colophons is extensive and his arguments are precise; his epigraphic colophons include introductions to rubbings and editions, textual research, and evaluations of stele inscriptions and model calligraphy. His colophons are marked by complete structural form, meticulous verification, and judicious critique.