Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing, Mi Fu, Zhao Mengfu, Wang Duo, etc.
1. Wang Xizhi
Wang Xizhi (303-361, one version says 321-379), with a courtesy name of Yishao, was a calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and was known as the "Sage of Calligraphy". Langya was born in Linyi (now Linyi, Shandong), and later moved to Shanyin, Huiji (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang), and lived in seclusion in Jinting, Shan County in his later years.
He successively served as secretary Ying, general Ningyuan, governor of Jiangzhou, and later as internal history of Kuaiji, leading the right general. His calligraphy is good at Li, Cao, Kai, Xing and other styles. He studies the styles carefully, imitates them with his heart and hands, draws on the strengths of others, prepares various styles, and cultivates them in one furnace. He breaks away from the writing style of Han and Wei Dynasties and becomes his own style with far-reaching influence.
The style is peaceful and natural, the writing style is euphemistic and subtle, and it is beautiful and healthy. Li Zhimin commented: "Wang Xizhi's calligraphy not only expresses the simplicity and profoundness based on the philosophy of Lao and Zhuang, but also expresses the harmony based on the Confucian doctrine of the mean." His representative work "Lanting Preface" is known as "the best running script in the world".
2. Yan Zhenqing
Yan Zhenqing (709-August 23, 784), courtesy name Qingchen, nicknamed Xianmenzi, also nicknamed Yingfang, was born in Beijing in 1000 years (today's A native of Xi'an, Shaanxi, his ancestral home is Langya Linyi (now Linyi, Shandong). A famous official and calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, he was the grandson of the fifth generation of Secretary Yan Shigu and the younger brother of Situ Yan Gaoqing.
In the 22nd year of Kaiyuan (734), Yan Zhenqing ascended to the rank of Jinshi and served successively as the supervisory censor and the imperial censor. Later, because he offended the powerful minister Yang Guozhong, he was demoted to the prefect of Pingyuan, and was known as "Yan Pingyuan" in the world. During the Anshi Rebellion, Yan Zhenqing led the rebel army against the rebels.
Later he went to Fengxiang and was awarded the title of Minister of the Ministry of Constitution. During the reign of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty, he became the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the Crown Prince and the Grand Master, and was granted the title of Duke of Lu County, and was known as "Gong Yan Lu". In the first year of Xingyuan (784), he was sent to tell the rebel general Li Xilie, but he resisted the rebels sternly and was eventually hanged.
After he was killed, the successor Cao King Li Gao and the soldiers of the three armies all cried bitterly for him. Situ was given a posthumous title of "Wenzhong".
Yan Zhenqing has exquisite calligraphy and is good at running and regular script. He first studied under Chu Suiliang, and later under Zhang Xu, acquiring his brushwork. His regular script is dignified and majestic, and his running script is powerful. He created the "Yan style" regular script and had a great influence on later generations. Together with Zhao Mengfu, Liu Gongquan and Ouyang Xun, they are known as the "Four Masters of Regular Script".
3. Mi Fu
Mi Fu (1051-1107), whose first name was Fu, later changed to Fu, with the courtesy name Yuanzhang, and his own name was Mi or Qian. He was a native of Xiangyang, Hubei Province. He was named Haiyue Waishi, also known as the descendant of Wan Xiong and the descendant of Huozheng.
The calligraphers, painters, calligraphy and painting theorists of the Northern Song Dynasty, together with Cai Xiang, Su Shi, and Huang Tingjian, are known as the "Four Song Schools". He once served as school secretary, doctor of calligraphy and painting, and wailang of the Ministry of Etiquette. His ancestral home was Shanxi, but he moved to Xiangyang, Hubei, and later settled in Runzhou (now Zhenjiang, Jiangsu).
He is good at poetry and prose, good at calligraphy and painting, and has a unique style of painting and calligraphy. He founded "Mi Dian Landscape". He is a calligrapher, painter, connoisseur and collector.
Mi Fu's calligraphy and painting are unique in style, with dead wood, bamboo and stone, and landscape paintings having unique style and characteristics. He is also quite accomplished in calligraphy, and is good at seal script, official script, regular script, running script, cursive script and other calligraphy styles. He is good at copying ancient calligraphy to a certain degree of authenticity. His main works include "Poems of Duojinglou", "Poems of Hongxian County", "Inscriptions on Yanshan Mountain", "Inscription of Worship to Zhongyue", etc.
4. Zhao Mengfu
Zhao Mengfu (fǔ) (October 20, 1254 - July 30, 1322), named Zi'ang, Han nationality, also known as Songxue Taoist, also known as Crystal Palace Taoist , Oubo, who once served as Meng Fu in his middle age. A native of Wuxing, Zhejiang (now Huzhou, Zhejiang).
A famous calligrapher, painter and poet from the late Southern Song Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty, the eleventh grandson of Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and the direct descendant of Qin King Zhao Defang.
In the twenty-third year of the Yuan Dynasty (1286), Zhao Mengfu was recommended by Cheng Jufu, the imperial censor of Xingtai, and was honored by Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty. He served successively as the Bachelor of Jixian and the General Manager of Jinan Road. He was promoted to Confucian scholars in Shijiang, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, and served as a bachelor's degree scholar in the Hanlin Academy. He was a scholar of the Hanlin Academy and a doctor of honor and wealth.
In his later years, he gradually retired and later begged to return home due to illness. In the second year of Zhizhi (1322), Zhao Mengfu passed away at the age of sixty-nine. He was awarded the posthumous title "Wenmin" by Pingzhang Zhengshi and Wei Guogong of Zhongshu Province in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, so he was called "Zhao Wenmin". He is the author of "Song Xuezhai Collected Works" and so on.
Zhao Mengfu was erudite and talented. He was good at poetry and prose, understood economics, was good at calligraphy and painting, was good at epigraphy and stone, knew the rules and regulations, and understood appreciation. Especially calligraphy and painting have the highest achievements. He created the "Zhao style" script, and together with Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan, he was known as the "Four Masters of Regular Script".
5. Wang Duo
Wang Duo (1592-1652), also known as Juesi, also known as Juezhi, Shiqiao, Songqiao, Chi'an, Chixian Taoist , not named Yantan Yusou, a native of Mengjin, Henan. Calligrapher and painter in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. His calligraphy is as famous as Dong Qichang, and he is known as the "King of South, Dong and North".
In the second year of Qi Dynasty (1622), he was promoted to Jinshi by the examiner Yuan Keli and became a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. In the 16th year of Chongzhen (1643), Wang Duo became a bachelor of Dongge University.
In the 17th year of Chongzhen (the first year of Shunzhi, the founder of the Qing Dynasty, 1644), after the Manchu Dynasty entered the customs, he was awarded the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, a bachelor of Guanhong Academy of Literature, and Prince Shaobao. In the 9th year of Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1652) Died of illness in his hometown. He died at the age of sixty-one and was buried beside the Luo River in Gongyi, Henan. He was given the posthumous title Wen'an.
Wang Duo's calligraphy works include "Mountain Garden Tie" and "Langhua Pavilion Tie", and his paintings include "Snow Scenery with Bamboo and Stone Pictures".
Baidu Encyclopedia - Calligrapher