There was a great calligrapher named Liu Gongquan in the Tang Dynasty in China. Liu Gongquan not only carefully studied the strengths of the previous calligraphers, but also mastered them and created his own style. Later generations called him "Liu Ti". He, Yan Zhenqing, Su Shi, etc. , praised by many calligraphy lovers in later generations. Most beginners in calligraphy started with "Yan Liu Ou Su".
Liu Gongquan's great achievements in calligraphy are not born, but the result of diligent study and practice. There is also a story in it!
Legend has it that when Liu Gongquan was a child, he spent a lot of time practicing calligraphy at the request of his parents and teachers. After several years, he made remarkable progress. Although he looks short and thin, he is just a child who is not very sensible, but he writes Yu He slowly and steadily, which is not only much better than the children around him, but many adults feel that their calligraphy can't catch up with this child.
People are often surprised and fond of a child's merits, and can't help praising the child's cleverness and hard work, not to mention Liu Gongquan's outstanding and unusual merits. As a result, young Liu Gongquan can get many praises from his parents, husbands and elders almost every day. Everyone said to him:
"Oh, it's amazing that you write so beautifully at a young age!"
At first, Liu Gongquan heard these words, still feel very embarrassed, red face and said:
"Don't praise me, I'm far from being a real calligrapher!"
After listening to too many compliments, Liu Gongquan couldn't help feeling proud. Looking at his calligraphy, he felt really excellent, even compared with those famous calligraphers, it didn't seem too bad. At that time, when people praised his calligraphy again, he accepted it with a clear conscience, and sometimes even said:
"This word is not my best, but that one is really good!"
But once he became proud, he refused to spend a lot of time practicing and thinking about calligraphy as before, so his progress in calligraphy became smaller and smaller.
One day, Liu Gongquan was playing games with several children in his neighbor's house. Liu Gongquan said:
"Old play hide and seek, so boring! Let's play a new trick today. Let's have a writing competition. Whoever writes well is the general. The worst writer, let the general ride. How about it, dare to come? "
All the other children agreed, and everyone found pen and ink, each wrote a word and put it together for comparison. Who will be the referee? There happened to be an old man selling tofu next to him enjoying the cool under the big tree, so Liu Gongquan pulled him over and said:
"Grandpa, please help us see whose handwriting is the best and can be a general?"
Pointing to his article again, he proudly said:
"Do you think this article is the best? That was written by me. "
Grandpa carefully read the children's handwriting and found that Liu Gongquan really wrote the best. He glanced at Liu Gongquan, and felt that this boy's handwriting was good, but he was a little too proud. At this rate, I'm afraid it's hard to make any further progress. He should sober up. So, he made a very disapproving appearance and said to Liu Gongquan:
"I don't see what's good about your handwriting, but I feel like the tofu I sell. It's light and scattered when touched!"
Liu Gongquan has never received such an evaluation, so he is unconvincing. He said unhappily:
"I don't write well? Then write a good one for us to see! "
The old man selling tofu twisted his beard and smiled.
"Son, I can't write well either. But I know that there is a man in Huayuan City who writes with his feet, which is much better than yours! "
Liu Gongquan didn't believe it anyway, so he decided to visit Huayuan City. If no one can write well with his feet, he must talk to the old man.
The next day, Liu Gongquan came to Huayuan City. Near the city gate, he saw many people standing in a circle under a tree, looking at something quietly. Every once in a while, the crowd will give a cheer to attract more people. Liu Gongquan looked up and saw a piece of white cloth hanging on the tree, on which were written three big characters: "Calligraphy and painting soup". The font is vigorous and powerful. Liu Gongquan couldn't help secretly letting out a cry. At the same time, he moved in his heart and squeezed into the circle in three steps and two steps.
In the middle of the clearing, sat a dark and thin grandfather with a blank sheet of paper beside him. Grandpa has no arms and is disabled, but he is in good spirits and has a good eye. He slowly stretched out his left foot, pressed the paper down, held a writing brush between the big toe and the second toe of his right foot and dipped it in thick ink. My ankle flexes and stretches, and I scribble on the paper, writing so easily and skillfully. Onlookers quietly watched this miraculous scene, and Liu Gongquan was fascinated. It was not until Grandpa finished writing a pair of couplets that people shouted with one voice that he woke up from a rude awakening and suddenly realized how ridiculous it was to be so proud. He came to the brokeback grandfather in shame, plopped down on his knees and said to him:
"Grandpa, my name is Liu Gongquan. I like practicing calligraphy since I was a child. I have learned something in recent years. People praised me a few words, so I didn't know how small I was and felt great. I didn't know I was too backward until I read your handwriting today. I used to be so proud! Grandpa, if you think I still have hope of correcting, please accept me as a disciple! I promise to study hard with an open mind and never be self-righteous again! "
Grandpa armless saw that Liu Gongquan was young, but smart. More importantly, he can sincerely admit and correct his mistakes, and I can't help falling in love with this child. He thoughtfully for a moment, pen to write down these words:
"Write eight cylinders of water, ink dyed black pool.
Bring in all parents, and dragons and phoenixes can fly. "
After writing, he said to Liu Gongquan, "This is the trick I discovered after practicing calligraphy all my life. I'll give it to you today. As for whether you can practice calligraphy well, it depends on how hard you work! "
Liu Gongquan gratefully bid farewell to his armless grandfather and deeply remembered what his grandfather gave him. He has been practicing hard every day since then. Although his level is improving every day, he is never complacent. He always asks himself to write better and better! Finally, he created Liu Ti and became one of the best calligraphers at that time.