Imperial Inscriptions

Daguan Feng, Mt. Tai

The gold inscription on the right was written by the Tang emperor Xuanzong. At the far left, is a modest small-character inscription by Emperor Kangxi (1684). The emperors, needless to say, did not spend days up here chipping stone. They wrote out an inscription with ink and paper, which was cut into a stencil and then carved onto the stone by artisans. Stele inscriptions were made in the same way.