People generally believe that the "three unique steles" in Liuzhou are Liu Shi, Hanwen and Su Shu. Zi Hou's benevolent policies, Tui Zhi's articles, and Zizhan's calligraphy are famous throughout the ages, and they are indeed the three masterpieces.
However, if evaluated separately, the "Liuzhou Luochi Temple Stele" written by Master Shen can also be called one of the three unique steles. Master Shen was also a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. Why are the stone tablets he wrote before Su Zi forgotten? Let’s imagine again, if we turn back the time and let the calligrapher Wang Yizhi write this monument, would it be called the Three Uniques?
I don’t think so. To evaluate something as "absolute", one should start from the overall perspective. Each of the three is "excellent", each has its own beauty, and each is unique in its own way, but combining them into one may not necessarily be "excellent". Only the three absolutes melt into one and gather into spirit, giving the stone tablet a soul, which can be called the true absolute.
Liu Zi was a man of strong blood and bravery in innovation. He was demoted to Yongzhou and then to Liuzhou, but he still fulfilled his duties, planting tangerines and digging wells, praying for rain and establishing religion, which benefited the whole area.
Han Tui’s courage served as a teacher, admonishing and welcoming the Buddha’s bones. He was once demoted to Yangshan and then to Chaozhou. He still served the people diligently, freed slaves, drove away crocodiles, and was grateful to the people.
Su Zi looked at the bright wind and the bright moon, and had no direction. He was demoted to Huangzhou, then to Huizhou and even to Danzhou. Facing the storms of life, he walked slowly in the mist and rain.
The same literary talents and similar twists and turns have forged a beautiful soul, which is soaked in ideals, compassion and perseverance. It spans time and space and condenses into a stone monument.
This is the wonderful thing about the "Three Jue Monuments".