Evaluating Epitaph to Yang Zhiyi of Tang Dynasty

The one to Yang Zhiyi is often mentioned whenever epitaphs of Tang Dynasty were talked of in many ancient records, in that besides its historical importance, it is so beautifully worded, delicately articulated and vividly inscribed that it represents the best of literature and calligraphy at that time. On the one hand, historically, it evidences such facts that(1) King of Guan was actually Yang Xiong, and(2) he was granted Sikong, one of the three highest offi cial titles, as recorded by the New Book of Tang, but(3) there was an error in Tang Huiyao, literally, Institutional History of Tang, in which was Yang's name was misspelt, and a part concerning Pingkangfang(the Northern Block of Chang'an, the capital of Tang Dynasty) shall be supplemented. On the other, in addition to fully demonstrating the literary achievements of its writer, He Zhizhang, it manifests an excellent mastery of exquisite stone carving and calligraphy of pure and steady strokes.