Nanjing University (NJU) Suzhou Campus opened an exhibition titled “The Grandeur of Calligraphy - Nanjing University Special Collection of Chinese Inscription Rubbings” on September 23.

46 pieces of precious rubbings are displayed at the exhibition. Notably, it also marks the first time for a relic from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) being displayed publicly in Suzhou.

(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

Historically, materials like tortoise shells, bronzes, bricks and stone tablets were used for writing Chinese characters, preserving Chinese culture for over 2,000 years. Rubbings serve as a crucial medium for replicating original writings, done by pressing thin sheets of wet paper onto inscriptions carved into these hard materials before carefully being immersed with ink. The additional use of seals and annotations on the rubbings constitutes an art form in itself, offering important references for historical records.

With a history spanning over 120 years, Nanjing University has amassed a large collection of cultural relics, including more than 20,000 rubbings from different eras. The majority of the rubbings were part of the collections of Jinling University (one of Nanjing University’s predecessors), and some were donated by the university’s professors.