What does Ouyang Zhongshi mean when he says that writing is a drama without action?

1943, Ouyang Zhongshi, who was still studying in Jinan, went to his classmate's house to play and sang "Baidicheng" by Xi School. Unexpectedly, a man came out of the house, praised him greatly and accepted him as an apprentice on the spot. This man is Xi Xiaobo, one of the four major students in Beijing Opera. Since then, the relationship between master and apprentice has been profound, and the art of Xi School has been passed down from generation to generation.

Besides learning drama from Xi Xiaobo, Ouyang Xiu is also good at drawing artistic nutrition from various channels. He studied drama with Liu Zengfu and studied under Mao, Zhang Xihou, Sun, Fan, Kong Fanchang and Du Xiaoxian. He also carefully pondered the essence of different performances of Peking Opera and learned many lessons from the stage presentation of the final ugliness.

In his monograph Xiao Bo Xiao Yong, he said that he not only benefited from Mr. Xi Xiaobo in Peking Opera, but also enjoyed the kindness of his great teacher in calligraphy. Xi Xiaobo is knowledgeable and versatile, and has a high level of accomplishment in history, literature and calligraphy. Ouyang Zhongshi and Xi Xiaobo were separated for many years, during which there were frequent exchanges between fish and geese. The two letters to be communicated every week were written with a brush. It can be said that Xi Xiaobo is a well-deserved calligrapher and has a great influence on Ouyang Zhongshi's calligraphy. On the one hand, he studied the art of Peking Opera, on the other hand, he honed his calligraphy. Ouyang Zhongshi learned from his master that the quality of painting and calligraphy is not between pen and ink, but more important than the difference of artistic conception and style, and the same is true of Beijing opera.

From calligraphy to drama, art is interlinked. Mr. Wang said, "Writing is a play without costumes."