The Four Great Calligraphers of the Early Tang Dynasty refer to the calligraphers Yu Shinan, Ouyang Xun, Chu Suiliang and Xue Ji in the early Tang Dynasty.
1. Yu Shinan: (558--638), courtesy name Boshi, from Yuyao, Yuezhou (now Yuyao, Zhejiang). During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he served as a daily official and a housekeeper. In the Tang Dynasty, he served as secretary, supervisor, and bachelor of Hongwen Hall. Not only was his calligraphy unparalleled, he was also an upright man with a strong temperament. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty praised him for his "five excellences": "The first is erudition, the second is virtue, the third is calligraphy, the fourth is diction, and the fifth is loyalty. One of these is enough." "Yu Shinan's calligraphy is smooth and graceful, the wind and spirit are scattered, his face is open, and his beauty contains muscles and bones." He preferred cursive writing, and in his later years his regular script was comparable to that of Wang Xizhi. According to legend, he was diligent in studying, often practicing by slicing his belly in the quilt when he was lying down, and he could calligraphy well regardless of paper or pen. The works passed down include "Confucius Temple Monument", "Princess Runan's Epitaph", "Hanren Temple Monument", "Lun Tao Tie", etc. The Forest of Steles in Xi'an currently contains the "Confucius Temple Stele" and "Selected Inscriptions from Chunhua Pavilion" etc.
2. Ouyang Xun: (557--641), styled Xinben, Tanzhou Linxiang (now Hunan) Changsha) people. 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". Ouyang Xun's regular script is unparalleled in the world for its rigorous standard and powerful writing skills. He is said to be the best regular script among the Tang Dynasty people. Both he and Yu Shinan were famous for their calligraphy in the early Tang Dynasty, and they were both called "European Yu". Later generations saw that their calligraphy was extremely dangerous in the ordinary, and was the easiest for beginners to learn, so they called it "European style". His "Jiucheng Palace Liquan Inscription" can be said to be the pinnacle of European regular script; "Huangfu's Birthday Stele", "Wen Yanbo Stele", and "Huadu Temple Relic Pagoda Inscription" are world-famous. The Secretary of History inquired about Wang Shu, a beginner, and found that it was dangerous and difficult to overcome, and its eight styles were both wonderful. The Forest of Steles in Xi'an currently contains works such as "The Monument of Huangfu's Birthday".
3. Chu Suiliang: (596--658 or 659), courtesy name Dengshan, a native of Qiantang (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang), a title granted by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty The Duke of Henan is known as "Chu Henan" in the world. History records that this person was well versed in literature and history, and was especially good at calligraphy. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once said: "After Yu Shinan's death, no one will discuss calligraphy with me anymore." Wei Zheng recommended Chu Suiliang, saying, "Suiliang's penmanship is so vigorous that he is worthy of Wang Yi Shao's style." Officials arrive at Zhongshu Order. Later, he was repeatedly demoted and died because he opposed Tang Gaozong's decision to make Wu Zetian his queen. His book office studied under Ouyang Xun and others, followed Yu Shinan, and later learned from King Xizhi of France and integrated Han Li. Its characteristics are: the main text is rich and colorful, unique, and the cursive writing is smooth and varied, with many changes. At that time, he was as famous as Ou and Yu, and there were many scholars. Yan Zhenqing was also affected by it. "Book Review of the Tang Dynasty" said that Chu's calligraphy is "gold in the words, jade in the lines, gentle in rules, and beautiful in many ways." The handed down steles include "Tongzhou Tripitaka Preface to the Holy Religion", "Yi Qian Buddhist Niche", and "Master Meng's Stele". wait. Representative works from the Xi'an Forest of Steles collection are shown in the picture.
4. Xue Ji: (649--713), named Sitong, was born in Fenyin, Puzhou (now Wanrong West, Shanxi Province). He was promoted to Jinshi, Ruizong's time official, and became the Minister of Zhongshu. He participated in political affairs and was favored by Ruizong. Later, Dou Huaizhen and others plotted to kill Xuanzong. He was ordered to die in prison because he foresaw the plot. He started his calligraphy work in official script, and later saw the calligraphy of Yu Shinan and Chu Suiliang at the home of his maternal ancestor Wei Zheng, so he copied them carefully, and mastered Chu Suiliang's calligraphy. At that time, he said that "you can get Xue from Chu without losing his integrity." In addition to learning calligraphy, he also studied calligraphy. A famous painter, he is good at painting figures, Buddha statues, birds and beasts, trees and rocks. His painting of cranes is especially vivid and he is known as one of the best at that time. Later generations commented that Xue Shu was "like the wind stirring up the flowers in the garden, and the snow stirring up the mountain cypresses". In the early Tang Dynasty, Xue Ji, together with Yu, Ou, Chu and others, were named after the "Four Great Calligraphers in the Early Tang Dynasty". Its inscriptions include "Stele of Prince Shengxian", "Stele of Zen Master Xinxing", etc.