1. Zhang Xu, a calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, with the courtesy name Bogao and Jiming, was born in Wuxian County, Suzhou (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). He was good at cursive writing and liked drinking. He was known as "Zhang Dian" in the world, together with Huai Su. "Dian Zhang Zuisu", together with He Zhizhang, Zhang Ruoxu and Bao Rong, is known as the "Four Scholars in Wuzhong", and together with He Zhizhang and others, he is also known as the "Eight Immortals in Drinking". His cursive script is also known as "the Eight Immortals in Drinking" along with Li Bai's poems and Pei Min's sword dance. Three unique things”.
2. Zhang Xu was born in a family with a high status. He once learned calligraphy from his uncle Lu Yanyuan. After he became successful in learning, he was admired by Wu Daozi, Yan Zhenqing and others. When he was older, he passed the exams, recommended, and conquered. When he entered the officialdom, he was released as Changshu County Lieutenant; he successively served as the chief historian of Zuolifu and the chief historian of Jinwu, so he was called "Zhang Changshi" by the world; he died in about the second year of Qianyuan (759) at the age of about seventy Five years old.
3. In terms of calligraphy, Zhang Xu is diligent in observing objective things, and is good at combining objective natural objects with personal subjective emotions. He not only inherits tradition, but also has the courage to innovate. He inherits the calligraphy achievements of his predecessors and innovates them. As a result, his own Kuangcao art reached a peak during the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
4. In terms of calligraphy thoughts, Zhang Xu advocates the idea of ??imitating nature and emphasizes finding inspiration and enlightenment from nature and human social life. In Zhang Xu's eyes, all natural objects and all traces of life are the objects of learning from nature, and can inspire his creative inspiration. According to historical records, Zhang Xu enriched the idea of ??Bubai's structure from "Zhengdao", got inspiration from "hearing and advocating" about the speed, weight, speed and thickness of brushwork, and found inspiration from "Sword Dance" The compact, powerful, reasonable rhythm and erratic charm of Kuang Cao calligraphy has brought about qualitative changes in calligraphy. From these records, we can see that Zhang Xu is diligent in observing objective things and is good at combining objective natural objects with personal subjective emotions. From nature Among all living beings, the way of calligraphy is a combination of objectivity and subjectivity, as well as a combination of natural beauty and artistic beauty, which is exactly in line with the "natural" way in Lao and Zhuang's thoughts. With a true artist's vision, Zhang Xu searches for symbols in nature and life that correspond to his own emotions and personality. He integrates the situation of the world and all things with his own subjective mood, and embodies pointillism as he pleases. Using technique as a means of spiritual expression, he progresses from technique to Taoism, transforming all things into his own artistic language, and finally forms the flying and bold "crazy grass" expression form and style.