There is a two-fold, general classification of Chinese rubbings: bei and tie. Bei are rubbings from stelae or stone monuments. Tie are rubbings made from blocks carved specifically for transmitting famous calligraphy.

Bei -- Rubbings of Stelae (Stone Monuments)
Bei originally refers to rubbings made from inscriptions on stone slabs or pillars known as stelae. Over time, the bei category came also to include rubbings made from engraved bronze vessels, ancient mirrors, jades, grave markers, lacquer wares, and ink stones. For many centuries people have enjoyed acquiring bei rubbings and circulating them, especially those with significant historical value.

The importance of bei rubbings mirrors the significance of stone and bronze inscriptions in Chinese culture. The earliest stone monuments found in China are round boulders called jie. A few of this type without inscriptions are still standing, and it has been claimed that these monuments date back to the legendary kings of Shun and Yu in the third millennium B.C. The first known group of inscribed stone monuments is a set of ten stone drums dated to the eighth century B.C. The Qin Dynasty (221–207 B.C.), famous for its terracotta soldiers, marked the beginning of the use of stelae. During the Qin Empire such commemorative stelae were frequently erected in honor of the emperor and were often located at famous mountain sites.

In the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.) stone monuments had a wider purpose and took various forms. For example, many were dedicated to Confucianism and its ceremonial rites while others commemorated important national events and other imperial functions. There were also large stelae in honor of the passing of noted individuals, often with a long epigraph or obituary in memory of the deceased. Although very few signed stelae appear from this period, the quality of the literary content, the handsome calligraphy, and the superiority of the engravings show that Han stelae were highly regarded and made by outstanding artists. After the development of paper in the later Han Dynasty, it was discovered that paper could be used to make rubbings from these important stelae. Thus, the collection and dissemination of rubbings became a significant way to augment the stele's purpose of preserving and commemorating important social, political, and religious events.

Tie -- Rubbings of Stone Blocks with Calligraphy
Tie refers to rubbings made from stone blocks carved specifically for transmitting important calligraphy. Calligraphy was a crucial skill in the Chinese scholarly tradition and defined a major portion of an individual's reputation and social status. Its quality might have cost or made one's entire career and was often judged by whether or not it represented a faithful imitation of the masters. Therefore, students devoted a great deal of time to studying the history of calligraphy and copying the masters. Rubbings allow exact duplicates to be made of highly prized calligraphy, greatly expanding students' ability to improve their own calligraphy.

The process of engraving calligraphy is a fastidious craft. This is especially true for copying the valuable original handwriting of experts or model writing (fa tie). Trace-copies of the works of early master calligraphers were made by master calligraphers during the Tang and Song periods under imperial patronage. The stone engravings that resulted from the work of these calligraphers are among the finest in existence, as they are specimens chosen specifically as models for students of the art. In order to make the engraving, the trace-copies were written on paper in black or red ink. After pasting the trace-copy on the stone or wood, the engraver would cut through the trace-copy into the surface of the material striving to achieve the greatest possible accuracy. Often every participant in the process, including the person who copied the work, the skilled engraver, and the conscientious supervisor, signed his name alongside that of the original artist. Although carved stone blocks are selected for their durability, they still wear noticeably over time and are sometimes altered when re-carved resulting in subtle changes in rubbings made during different time periods. This chain of reproduction for some famous tie continues even today, though on a much more limited scale than centuries ago.


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