As a primogenitor of Chinese models of calligraphy, Chunhua Paragon Book is the earliest book of calligraphic models which contains the writings of many calligraphists in China.

In the third year of Chunhua reign period (992A.D.) in the Song Dynasty, Zhao Guangyi (Emperor Taizong) fetched out writings of famous calligraphists in past dynasties from Imperial Archives. He had the outlines of the writings sketched, carved on boards, and then had rubbings made from the characters and bound into book form. Such book was named Chunhua Paragon Book.

Chunhua Paragon Book consists of ten volumes. It contains calligraphic writings generated in more than one thousand years from the Early Qin to the Sui-Tang Period. The ten volumes contain 420 pieces of works written by 103 persons including emperors, ministers and famous calligraphists. Chunhua Paragon Book was awarded by later generations the title of "Primus Chinese Model of Calligraphy" and "Primogenitor of Copybooks". Volume No.1 of the book contains writings of 19 emperors from the Early Qin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty; volume No.2, No.3 and No.4 contain writings of famous ministers in past dynasties; volume No.5 contains ancient models of calligraphy of various calligraphic schools; the rest five volumes contain writings of Wang Xizhi and his son Wang Xianzhi in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In virtue of this book of calligraphic models, writings of most of calligraphists living prior to the Song Dynasty were passed down.

Thanks to Chunhua Paragon Book, large quantities of national treasure-like authentic works of ancient China were available to common people for the first time. Accordingly, the number of calligraphy enthusiasts increased, which gave a stimulus to the development of Chinese calligraphic art.

During Qingli period of Emperor Renzong's reign (1041-1048 A.D.), the original jujube edition of Chunhua Paragon Book was burned out. For this reason, the books of rubbings made at early stage are extraordinarily precious and regarded as the most valuable treasure of Chinese calligraphic art. In early 2003, Shanghai Museum purchased four volumes of Chunhua Paragon Book (the most exquisite edition) from America at an expense of US$ 4.5 million.