The plaque of “Luokeng Abode”

The plaque of “Luokeng Abode”

The plaque is hung above the lintel of Luokeng Abode. The inscription goes: “In the Bing-Shenyear, I together with Huang Mufu, Fan Zhongzhuang, Shen Zhonghe, Sheng Jiying and Liang Boyin visited Meiluogang and my disciple Zhong Jingchi. Now four years elapsed and I was asked for a favor of my handwriting for Luokeng Abode. It was where Zhong’s remote ancestor Yuyan studies and later expanded as an academy. Now the renovation has been completed, Zhong plans to still use its former name in the East Study as a commemoration. Shi Defen of Panyu in the 12th lunar month of Ji Hai (with a seal).” The main texts “Luokeng Abode” and the smaller inscriptions are all in black cursive-regular script in a green background. The calligraphy follows the tradition of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, with solid foundation, graceful structure and skillful strokes. The smaller characters are comparably better than the bigger ones. It is suspected that the bigger characters are enlarged from smaller ones, so some strokes are not as smooth and elegant as the smaller ones. The “Abode” here refers to the place where Confucians give lectures.