When dealing with political affairs, he often devotes himself to learning calligraphy in his spare time. He especially loved Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. He once wrote letters to collect Xi's legacy and wrote his own biography. I was fascinated by Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Lanting Pavilion and put it on my pillow. I often light candles in the middle of the night, and even make a will before I die, and bury myself in the ground with the best calligraphy in the world.
He was also good at learning from calligraphers at that time, and often learned calligraphy from ministers such as Yu Shinan, Ou Yangxun and Chu Suiliang. Yu Shinan, known as one of the four great calligraphers in the early Tang Dynasty, is well versed in ancient and modern times and writes like a pen. Emperor Taizong always respected him and often copied and studied Yu Shinan's calligraphy.
In the process of practicing calligraphy, Emperor Taizong deeply felt that the word "ge" in Shinan font was the most difficult to write, and it was not easy to write its spirit. On one occasion, he practiced "Yan", fearing that he could not write disgracefully, so he deliberately left the word "Ge" blank and privately asked Yu Shinan to make it up.
Later, Emperor Taizong invited Wei Zhi, the remonstrator, to watch it and asked Wei Zhi for advice: "Do you think my handwriting looks like Yu Shinan?" Wei Zhi looked at it respectfully and carefully, and kept silent with a smile. At this time, Emperor Taizong asked him anxiously: "Is it like it? Why not talk? " Wei Zhi immediately said, "I dare not comment on your handwriting." Emperor Taizong said, "You can speak frankly. I forgive your innocence. " At this time, Wei said, "According to the minister, only the right half of the word' Yan' is the closest to' Ge', and the other parts are far apart." Hearing these words, Emperor Taizong sighed deeply and admired Wei Zhi's eyesight, thus realizing that learning calligraphy can't be fake at all. If you want to learn something, you must work hard.
Li Shimin personally advocated calligraphy, making calligraphy in Tang Dynasty a glorious page in the history of calligraphy in China.