Liu Gongquan (778-865), courtesy name Chengxuan, was a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty and a native of Jingzhao Huayuan (now Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province). He rose to the rank of Prince's Shaoshi, and was known as "Liu Shaoshi" in the world. Liu Gongquan's calligraphy is famous for his regular script. He is as famous as Yan Zhenqing and is known as Yan Liu. He first learned calligraphy from Wang Xizhi. Later, he looked at the calligraphy of famous calligraphers in the Tang Dynasty and thought that Yan Zhenqing and Ouyang Xun's calligraphy were the best, so he absorbed the strengths of Yan and Ou, and formed his own style between the Jin people's charm and Yan's calligraphy. Willow body is famous for its strong bones and is known as "Yan Jin Liu Gu" in later generations. He created many works in his life, mainly including "Inscription on the Bell Tower of the Huiyuan Temple of the Tang Dynasty", "Stone Carvings of the Diamond Sutra", "Mysterious Pagoda Stele", "Feng Su Stele" and "Shence Army Stele". There are also ink inscriptions "Mengzhao Tie" and "Wang Xianzhi's postscript to send pears".
The heart is right and the pen is right
Liu Gongquan is not only a famous calligrapher, but also an upright and outspoken person.
One year, Emperor Mu Zong of the Tang Dynasty saw the calligraphy written by Liu Gongquan in a temple. He liked it very much and wanted to meet him and talk about calligraphy together. By coincidence, not long after, Liu Gongquan came to the court from Xiazhou (now northern Shaanxi), where he was an official, to attend to matters. When Muzong of the Tang Dynasty heard that Liu Gongquan was coming, he asked him to come to see him and kept him in the court as Youshiyi (an official responsible for making suggestions to the emperor).
One day, Tang Muzong and Liu Gongquan were discussing calligraphy together. Tang Muzong asked Liu Gongquan for advice: "Your calligraphy is correct and strong, but I can't write that well. How can I use the pen to write it well?" Have you finished writing?" After listening to Tang Mu Zong's question, Liu Gongquan thought to himself: I have long heard that the emperor eats, drinks and has fun all day long and ignores government affairs. Why don't I take this opportunity to persuade him?
So, he said to Tang Muzong: "To write, you must first hold the pen correctly. The key to using the pen lies in the heart. Only when the heart is right can the pen be straight! This is the same as the national affairs. Don't use the heart. No!"
After listening to Liu Gongquan's words, Tang Muzong knew that he was trying to persuade him by talking about his writing skills, and he couldn't help but blush.
This is just a small section. Later, the emperor was replaced by Tang Wenzong. One day, Tang Wenzong and several ministers were discussing state affairs, and Liu Gongquan was also present. When everyone mentioned that Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty paid great attention to frugality, Tang Wenzong raised his sleeves for everyone to see, and deliberately boasted: "This dress has been washed three times, and it is still on my body."
One of the ministers present immediately flattered him and said, "Your Majesty, your frugality is better than that of Emperor Wen of Han Dynasty!"
Several other ministers also followed suit. Only Liu Gongquan remained silent. Tang Wenzong was a little unhappy when he saw it, so he asked Liu Gongquan: "Why don't you say a word?"
Liu Gongquan looked at Tang Wenzong and said seriously: "Your Majesty, as the emperor, you are the most important person. The most important thing is to select those who are talented and virtuous, and to remove those who are not talented and virtuous. Let those who deserve rewards be rewarded, and those who deserve to be punished be punished. This is the most precious virtue of the emperor! A piece of washed clothes is indeed very good, but it is nothing more than a trivial matter!" After hearing what Liu Gongquan said, Tang Wenzong thought about it and thought it made sense, so he said happily: "Now the most noble civil servants. , the most glorious official position is Zhongshu Sheren (the official responsible for drafting imperial proclamations). You have already held this official position. Logically speaking, I should not let you be a small official like the admonishment doctor again. But because of you. You are upright and outspoken, and have the demeanor of a critic. Therefore, I would like to humiliate you and serve as an admonishment official again, so that you can remind me often.
The next day, Tang Wenzong issued an order to let you. Liu Gongquan also served as the admonishment official.