In the middle Tang Dynasty, the diversified development of calligraphy art resulted in the emergence of a large number of calligraphy masters with profound skills, which also reflected the highest level of calligraphy in the Tang Dynasty. Among them, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan are the most representative.
1. Yan Zhenqing: (709-785), whose name is Chen Qing, was born in Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi, Shaanxi). He was an official in Xuanzong, Suzong, Daizong and Dezong dynasties, and was a courtier of the prince. He is also known as Yan. He was born in a calligraphy family and was influenced by calligraphy art since he was a child. His great-grandfather, grandfather and father all made official seals, and his mother Yin was also good at calligraphy. Yan Zhenqing has been in the whirlpool of political struggle for a long time, and he was one of the key figures who opposed the rebels in the early period of "An Shi Rebellion". Shi Zai was rejected by Prime Minister Yang, so he became the magistrate of the Plain (now Shandong Plain). He had insight into the Anshi Rebellion, but in order to paralyze the Anshi Rebellion, he built more cities, trained able-bodied men, collected grain, and drank with guests all day for fun. In the 14th year of Tianbao (755), An rebelled, the river and the moon sank, and the plain remained unbroken. At this point, the four parties were strictly contacted to rebel, and the respondents were seventeen counties. He was promoted to the leader, united with 300,000 soldiers, and forced An Lushan to dare not rashly attack Tongguan. In the struggle with the powerful ministers Yang, Yuan Zai, and the rebels An Lushan and Li Xilie, he was upright and indomitable, and finally died at the hands of Li Xilie, becoming a model and example for loyal ministers and righteous men. His calligraphy began to learn from Wang Xizhi in the Jin Dynasty, Chu Suiliang and Zhang Xu in the Tang Dynasty, and then broke through the elegant calligraphy style of the "two kings" from the Six Dynasties to the prosperous Tang Dynasty. As a result, the round and thick brushwork replaced the skillful brushwork, forming a vigorous, vigorous and magnificent artistic style and creating a "face". The shelf of Yan Ti is flat and dignified, open on all sides, and looks generous and imposing. There are many relics of Yan Shu, the most famous of which are Duobaobei, Magu Xiantan, Yan Bei, Miao Bei, Li Bei, Yan Shi's manuscripts and competing seats. Yan Zhenqing's great achievements and outstanding contributions in calligraphy had a great influence on all generations after the Middle Tang Dynasty. Liu Gongquan, shihuaisu and others, who were a little later than him, became famous after learning Yan Shu.
2. Liu Gongquan: (778-865), word, Jingyuan (now Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province), Yuanhe. He experienced ten emperors in the Tang Dynasty all his life, and successively served as a bachelor of Hanlin, a calligrapher in China and an academician in Jixian County, which was very popular with the royal family. It was a great honor for the princes to get the epitaph written by Liu Gongquan as the ancestor when the custom of building monuments prevailed at that time. Many foreign envoys come to Chang 'an, often with money to buy his ink, which shows that his title has spread far and wide overseas. Wang Xizhi began to learn Liu Gongquan's calligraphy, read through the modern brushwork, and got great help from Ou Yangxun and Yan Zhenqing. Yan-style calligraphy wins with abundance and stability, while Liu Gongquan strengthens the unique side of Yan-style calligraphy on the basis of broadness and abundance. His style of writing is tall and straight, his style of writing is magnificent, his air is clean and healthy, and he is not bound by old customs, thus becoming a family of his own, and he is known internationally as "Yan Liu Jin Gu". There are many famous stone tablets handed down from ancient times, such as the mysterious pagoda stone tablet (see photo), the seal stone tablet and the Li Sheng stone tablet. The first rubbings "King Kong Jin" found in the stone room in Dunhuang, Gansu Province is a rare treasure. This year, the newly unearthed stone "Hui Yuan Guan Re Lou Ming" shows the spirit of Liu Shu.