「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」A small piece of rubbing, a myriad of history

If there were “cameras” and “printers” in ancient times, they must berubbings without a doubt. By covering a piece of rice paper over a stone inscription or a bronze artifact and using ink to make a print, the engraved patterns of time could be permanently preserved on the paper.

The origin of the process of making rubbings is subject to various theories. The Eastern Han Dynasty theory claims that it resembles the shedding of a cicada’s shell. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Wang Xizhi once practiced with the rubbings. The theories of the Northern and Southern Dynasties suggest a connection with the spread of Buddhism. In the Tang Dynasty, it became a carrier for the study of calligraphy. In the Song Dynasty, it contributed to the development of epigraphy studies. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it remained an important basis for both academia and art. Nowadays, although rubbings are no longer the main force in information dissemination, they have taken root and grown in new soil. By using the rubbing technology to replicate stone tablets, the precious collections in museums can be brought closer to people’s lives in a more intimate way. The rubbing patterns are also integrated into clothing and cultural products, making the thousand-year patterns become symbols of the trend.

The variation in ink color not only reflects the skill of the artisans, but also represents the continuation of culture. It gives the dormant history a sense of warmth and enables traditional craftsmanship to find new coordinates in the contemporary era.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.