Zhang Xu, born in Wu Jun (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province) with unknown date of birth and death, was an official for many years, hence the name. According to the "New Tang Book Literary Biography", "Xu, a native of Wu, Suzhou, is a heavy drinker. Every time I get drunk, I shout I'm going crazy, so I write, or I write with my head immersed in ink. When he woke up, he felt that he was a god and could not get it back. That one called Zhang Dian. "
Zhang Xu, Li Bai and Who were collectively called "Eight Immortals in Wine" at that time; His cursive script, Li Bai's poems and songs, and Pei Min's sword dance are also called "three wonders".
Zhang Dian's story:
Zhang Xu has a neighbor whose family is very poor. Hearing that Zhang Xu is generous, he wrote to Zhang Xu, hoping to get his support. Zhang Xu was very sympathetic after reading the letter, so he said in his reply: "As long as you say that this letter was written by Zhang Xu, you can ask for a hundred taels of gold."
After receiving Zhang Xu's reply, the neighbor took the letter to the street to sell, and it was quickly bought at a high price.
Zhang Xu's calligraphy skills are profound. Although he writes cursive casually, all his works are organized. Among his works, four ancient poems are the most praised.
He wrote four ancient poems by Yu Xin and Xie Lingyun, two great writers in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, on precious five-color stationery with his own Wild Grass.