Ouyang Xun, courtesy name Xinben, was born in Linxiang, Tanzhou (now Changsha, Hunan). Dr. Taichang, an official in the Sui Dynasty, was granted the title of Prince Shugengling in the Tang Dynasty, also known as "Ouyang Shugeng". Because his son Ouyang Tong was also good at calligraphy, he was also called "Da Ou". In the Sui Dynasty, Ouyang Xun's calligraphy enjoyed a high reputation. In the Tang Dynasty, Ouyang Xun, who was nearly seventy years old, was still teaching calligraphy at the "Hongwen Museum". Ouyang Xun's eight styles of calligraphy are exquisite, his regular calligraphy is rigorous, and his writing power is unparalleled in the world. He is called the best regular calligraphy among the Tang Dynasty people. He and Yu Shinan were both famous for their calligraphy in the early Tang Dynasty, and they were both called "Ou Yu".
Historical records record that Xun learned calligraphy for the first time, but he passed it by a dangerous margin. Legend has it that Ouyang Xun once paid a lot of money to buy the "Zhigui Tu" used by Wang Xizhi to teach his children to practice calligraphy, and he copied and studied it day and night. Another time when he went out with Yu Shinan, he saw a stele written by Suo Jing, a calligrapher of the Jin Dynasty. He sat on the ground and carefully observed, traced and studied next to the stele for three days. This shows Ouyang Xun's deep interest in calligraphy. Later, he extensively studied the tablets and stone carvings of the Northern Dynasties, and at the same time absorbed the strengths of some local calligraphers, and then integrated the writing style of official script into it, forming a calligraphy style of "vigorous, dangerous, and strict". Later generations used the book to find out the dangers in the ordinary, and it was the easiest for beginners to learn, so it was named "European style" (also known as "Shuigeng style"). His "Jiucheng Palace Liquan Inscription" can be said to be the pinnacle of European regular script; his major works include "Inscription on the Yong Zen Master's Pagoda in Huadu Temple", "Yu Gonggong Wen Yanbo's Monument", "Huangfu's Birthday Monument", "Dream Ceremony Tie" and other famous works. World.
Ouyang Xun's calligraphy combines the characteristics of Han Li and Jin Dynasty regular scripts, and also incorporates the six dynasties' inscriptions, so it can be said that he draws on the strengths of each calligraphy school. The main characteristics of Ouyang Xun's calligraphy style are rigorous and neat, upright and vigorous. Although the font is slightly longer, the intervals are white, neat and rigorous, the middle palace is tight, and the main stroke is elongated, which makes it appear vigorous and unrestrained, sparse and dense, all sides are well prepared, eight sides are exquisite, the charm is vivid and just right. The combination of stipples and the structural arrangement are flat in the middle but steep and strong. Most of the fonts expand to the right, but the center of gravity is still very stable, without any sense of tilt or tilt, and it has the interest of combining danger with uprightness.
The representative work "Inscription on Liquan in Jiucheng Palace"
"Inscription on Liquan in Jiucheng Palace" is an inscription from the Tang Dynasty. It was established in Linyou (now Shaanxi) in 632 AD. Wei Zheng wrote the article and Ouyang Xunzheng wrote it. It describes the discovery of Liquan by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty when he was vacationing in Jiucheng Palace. The brushwork is strong and smooth, with official meaning. Ouyang Xun wrote this inscription when he was seventy-six years old. His calligraphy art was already proficient. In addition, it was written with Fengyuan's heart. Therefore, this inscription is a representative work of the calligrapher. Since ancient times, this inscription has been praised as "the ultimate rule of regular script" and is loved by people.