The full name of "Zhang Heinv's Epitaph" is "Epitaph of Zhang Xuan, the late governor of Nanyang in Wei Dynasty", and is also known as "Epitaph of Zhang Xuan". Zhang Xuan's nickname is Hei Nu. To avoid the name taboo of Aixinjueluo and Xuanye, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the people of the Qing Dynasty popularly called it "The Epitaph of Zhang Hei Nu".
This stele was engraved in October of the first year of Putai in the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 531). There is no trace of where it was unearthed, and the original stone has long been lost. The existing rubbings are handed down from the collection of He Zizhen in the Qing Dynasty.
This Zhi regular script has twenty lines, each line has twenty characters, totaling 367 words. Its calligraphy is exquisite and ancient, steep and simple, with a flat, square and sparse structure, tight inside and loose outside, with many official meanings. Although this epitaph is a formal book, its writing style is informal, restrained, and naturally elegant. The brushwork uses both center and side strokes, and uses both square and round strokes to achieve a balance between hardness and softness. The vivid and elegant style can be called the masterpiece of Northern Wei calligraphy.
