1. Liu Gongquan, a great calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty, was a disciple of Liu Gongquan. At the age of twelve, he was able to read poems and write articles, and he was called a prodigy, so he gradually became proud. One day, Liu Gongquan and his friends were writing bowls under the tree. At this moment, an old man selling tofu brain came along. Liu Gongquan proudly took his words and said to the old man, "Grandpa, do you think my writing is great?" The old man said, "This word is written like my tofu brain, soft and flat, with no bones and muscles." Liu Gongquan was unconvinced and insisted that the old man write a word to look at it. The old man said, "I can't write well, but some people write better with their feet." I don't believe you. Go to town tomorrow. " The next day, Liu Gongquan came to the county seat. As soon as I entered the city gate, I saw a cover hanging on the big locust tree in North Street, which read "calligraphy and painting soup" in three Chinese characters and surrounded many people. I saw a black and thin old man, without arms and barefoot, sitting on the ground, his left foot pressing the paper on the ground, and his right foot writing couplets with a pen, which was very good. Liu Gongquan looked ashamed and admired, wanted to worship him as a teacher, and asked him what was the secret of writing. The old man wrote with his feet: "After writing eight tanks of water, dye a pool of water and learn from others. He also said: "I was born without hands. I have been writing with my feet for more than 50 years, and there is still a long way to go! " Hearing this, Liu Gongquan was filled with emotion. From then on, he worked hard and finally became a great calligrapher.
Later generations' comments: In the Song Dynasty, Zhu Bian said, "It is better to be a public official, and the running script is better, but the grass is incompetent. Its law is based on beauty, but it is rich and famous in the world. " "Old Tang Book" says: "Gong Li studied Wang Shu first, read all the modern books, and became a family of his own. At that time, ministers' memorial tablets were not allowed to write calligraphy, which was considered unfilial. Foreigners pay tribute and buy willow books here without signing money. "