China's Scripture Calligraphy

This question is actually very difficult to answer directly. Just like Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan, we can say that they have their own merits, but it is difficult to compare them.

The same is true of Dunhuang Scriptures and 20 pieces of Longmen.

In fact, the years overlap and the brushwork is similar. For example, Dunhuang was originally written in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the brushwork was mainly in the form of Wei Bei (between official script and regular script). In the Tang Dynasty, most of them were regular script. Twenty pieces of Longmen is also a work of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Because it is a Buddhist theme, its brushwork is solemn and concise, and it is carved on a stone tablet, creating a precedent in Wei Bei. In fact, it was first written by celebrities and carved on stone tablets by craftsmen.

But there are also differences. The authors of Dunhuang scriptures are mostly craftsmen who make a living by copying books. They are "immortal", but they also have many fine products. Someone once commented on the fine works in Dunhuang Scriptures, saying that they were "enough to resist America, Europe and Chu". Song Huizong once specially collected the fine works in Dunhuang manuscripts.

Of course, Dunhuang scriptures are not all excellent works. After all, the purpose is to make money by copying books, and its phenomenon can be imagined.