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In A.D. 766 Geluofeng, King Piluoge's son, ascended
the throne and erected the stele of Nanzhao in the city proper of
Taihe. The stele measures 3.03 X 2.27 X 0.58 metres. It is the
largest stele of the Tang Dynasty kept in good condition in Yunnan.
On the facade, there are carved 3,800 Chinese characters which
vividly describe the early history of Nanzhao Kingdom, its
relationship with the Tang emperors and the whys and wherefores of
the Tianbao warfare. The language is touching and eloquent and the
calligraphy powerful, very similar to the handwriting of Li Beihai
(Li Yong). But actually, they were written by Zheng Hui, the
Qingpingguan or prime minister (second only to the king) of
Nanzhao Kingdom at the time. On the back of the stele, there are
engravings of the names of the high ranking officials, generals
and administrators. The inscriptions carved on the stele are
important information for the study of Nanzhao Kingdom's history
and her relations with the Tang Dynasty.
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