Wang Xizhi (321-379) was born in Linyi, Shandong. At the age of seven, he began to study calligraphy with Mrs. Wei, and later traveled to famous mountains and rivers, widely collecting the masterpieces of calligraphy of Qin and Han dynasties, forming a unique style of peace and nature, strangeness and boldness, and subtlety and taste, creating a beautiful and convenient new book style. Preface to Lanting Collection is his masterpiece. In the development of calligraphy, Wang Xizhi plays a connecting role between the past and the future, and has always been known as the "sage of calligraphy".
Ou Yangxun (557-641), a native of Changsha, Hunan. His calligraphy in his early years won Wang Xizhi's brushwork, and his masterpiece "The Inscription of Liquan in Jiucheng Palace" is very characteristic of Wang Xizhi's regular script. Ou Yangxun also extensively studied the inscriptions in the Northern Dynasties, and at the same time absorbed the strengths of other calligraphers in the Tang Dynasty, thus forming a unique style of vigorous, dangerous and strict laws, which is known as "European style". The biggest feature of the European body is "danger and strength", and at the same time, it seeks stability in danger and strength. Like a tall building on a cliff, it looks very thrilling, but it is built smoothly and firmly.
Another great calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty was Yan Zhenqing (79-785), who was born in Wannian, Jingzhao (now Xi 'an, Shaanxi). His calligraphy is vigorous and vigorous, which fully shows a great but innovative spirit that is not bound by Wei and Jin calligraphy, which is unprecedented among calligraphers in the Tang Dynasty.
His calligraphy has the beauty of being dignified, heavy, simple and broad, showing a graceful, generous, open and magnificent spirit.
Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy opened up a new realm after the Wei and Jin Dynasties, representing the second peak of calligraphy in the Tang Dynasty, which enriched the art of calligraphy in China and had a great influence on later generations. His famous inscriptions include the Induction Monument of Many Pagodas, The Story of Magu's Fairy Altar, The Monument of Yan's Family Temple, The Monument of Yan Qinli, Fighting for Seats, The Summary of Sacrificing Nephew, etc.
Liu Gongquan (778-865), a native of Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province, was a calligrapher with the same fame as Yan Zhenqing in the Tang Dynasty. He was also the representative of the second peak of calligraphy in the Tang Dynasty. Wang Xizhi's calligraphy had a great influence on Liu Gongquan's early years, but Liu Gongquan also attached great importance to absorbing the achievements of calligraphy since Sui and Tang Dynasties, thus gradually creating his own vigorous and slim style. In his calligraphy, there are many elements that absorb facial expressions, and he emphasizes the beauty of bone strength in his brushwork, but it also has a beautiful charm. He is skillful and rigorous in structure, but he is open and natural. Compared with Yan Ti, Liu Ti and Liu Ti see grandeur in beauty, while Yan Ti sees beauty in grandeur, each with different characteristics, so it is known as "Yan Jin Liu Gu". Liu Gongyi's famous inscriptions include: Mysterious Tower, Shence Army Monument, etc.
Although the regular script in Song Dynasty was inferior to that in Tang Dynasty, a new situation appeared in cursive writing. As the saying goes, calligraphy is "Jin Shangyun, Tang Shangfa and Song Shangyi". In Song Dynasty, the "valuing meaning" of calligraphy emphasized the attitude and paid attention to the expression of personal thoughts and feelings. Su Shi is such a calligrapher.
Although the regular script in Song Dynasty was inferior to that in Tang Dynasty, a new situation appeared in cursive writing. As the saying goes, calligraphy is "Jin Shangyun, Tang Shangfa and Song Shangyi". In Song Dynasty, the "valuing meaning" of calligraphy emphasized the attitude and paid attention to the expression of personal thoughts and feelings. Su Shi is such a calligrapher.
Su Shi (136-111) was born in Meishan, Sichuan Province. He was a writer and painter. He likes writing most in his life. He writes almost every time he sees a pen or paper, but he never likes others to ask him for words. In his early years, he paid great attention to stone inscriptions, and in his later years, he especially admired Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy. However, his own calligraphy is not confined to one family, but on the basis of inheriting many achievements, he created his own calm, vigorous and bold calligraphy style, which reached a beautiful realm different from Wei and Jin Dynasties and Tang Dynasty.
Su Shi thinks that "calligraphy is impermanent", but it is not impossible to find it, but it does not stick to the previous rules. He also advocated that only with knowledge and rich knowledge can calligraphy benefit, otherwise it would be in vain. He has a famous saying: "It's not enough to retreat into a mountain, and it's only after reading thousands of books that you can understand God." It means: learning calligraphy without knowledge and opinions, specializing in imitation, even if the effort is great, it is only a formality; Only when you read a lot of books and have an open mind can you write with charm. Su Shi's famous inscriptions include: Cold Food Poetry, Red Wall Fu, Zhongshan Songlao Fu, Dongting Chunse Fu and so on.