During the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China, Wang Xizhi, a great calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, learned from others and created a delicate and delicate calligraphy style. This new writing style soon spread in the south. In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, due to the advocacy of Emperor Taizong, Wang Xizhi's calligraphy was regarded as an original in the whole country, which had a great influence at that time.
Ou Yangxun was the first calligrapher in the early Tang Dynasty. His words are "vigorous and vigorous, and the statutes are strict", which is called "European style". Ou Yangxun studies books very hard. According to legend, once, he went out to read the inscription of Suo Jing, a calligrapher in the Western Jin Dynasty. At first glance, the impression is not deep; Later, he went to see it again and carefully observed and studied it. In his later years, Ou Yangxun's writing was more energetic. The Huangfu Birthday Monument in Xi 'an stele forest is his work.
Yan Zhenqing in Tang Dynasty was called another calligraphy innovator after Wang Xizhi by later generations. He took part in the imperial examination when he was young. In order to study, he resigned twice and went to Luoyang to study with the great calligrapher Zhang Xu. Zhang Xu saw that he was interested in learning books, so he taught him the method of writing books that he refused to tell others easily. Under the guidance of Zhang Xu, he studied hard and formed his own unique style, which is called "Yan Ti". Yan-style regular script is dignified and majestic, and the running script is vigorous and rich. Yan Zhenqing used a pen to hide the front evenly, which was just inside and warm outside, and the words were rounded and powerful. Yan stele in the forest of steles is his work.
After Yan Zhenqing, the influential calligrapher was Liu Gongquan. He was a beginner of Wang Xizhi and later visited a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. He thinks that Yan Zhenqing and harmony are the best, so he absorbs the advantages of Yan and Europe and becomes a whole. His calligraphy is vigorous and rigorous. The world has the saying "Yan Liu Jin Gu". The mysterious pagoda monument in the forest of steles is his masterpiece.
The calligraphy of the forest of steles is beautiful, and it is a treasure in China's art treasure house. The masterpieces left by the masters of art still shine brilliantly.
Firstly, this paper briefly introduces Xi 'an Stele Forest, indicating that it is "the largest treasure house of calligraphy art in China" and a place where "famous monuments gather together". Then, in the order of historical dynasties, it introduces the deeds and main characteristics of calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Ou Yangxun in the early Tang Dynasty, Yan Zhenqing in the prosperous Tang Dynasty and Liu Gongquan after Yan Zhenqing. Finally, it summarizes the position of calligraphy in the forest of steles in China's art treasure house. This paper introduces the representative works of Ou Yangxun, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan, such as Huangfu Birthday Monument, Yanshi Family Temple Monument and Xuanta Monument, but does not mention Wang Xizhi's works, because Wang Xizhi's original works have been lost. The Preface of Tang Sanzang in the forest of steles consists of the words of Huairen and Wang Xizhi in the Tang Dynasty.