Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Zhao Mengfu.
1. Ouyang Xun
Ouyang Xun, courtesy name Xinben, Han nationality, was born in Linxiang, Tanzhou (now Changsha, Hunan) in the Tang Dynasty. He was a famous calligrapher and official in the Tang Dynasty, and one of the four masters of regular script. 1. The grandson of Ouyang Li, the general of the Southern Liang Zhengnan, and the son of Ouyang He, the general of the Zuowei of the Southern Chen Dynasty. He was born in Hengzhou (now Hengyang, Hunan) in the second year of Taiping of Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty (557 AD), and his ancestral home is Linxiang, Tanzhou (now Changsha, Hunan).
2. Yan Zhenqing
Yan Zhenqing, whose courtesy name is Qingchen, whose nickname is Xianmenzi, and whose nickname is Yingfang, was born in Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi'an, Shaanxi), and his ancestral home is Langya Linyi (now Xi'an, Shaanxi). Linyi, Shandong). Secretary Jianyan was the grandson of the fifth generation of ancient Yan Shigu and the younger brother of Situ Yan Gaoqing. He was a famous official and calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty.
3. Liu Gongquan
Liu Gongquan, courtesy name Chengxuan, Han nationality, was from Huayuan, Jingzhao (now Yaozhou District, Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province). A famous calligrapher and poet in the mid-Tang Dynasty, he was the younger brother of Liu Gongchuo, Minister of War.
4. Zhao Mengfu
Zhao Mengfu (fǔ), courtesy name Zi'ang, Han nationality, also known as Songxue Taoist?, also known as Crystal Palace Taoist and Oubo. He was named Mengfu in his middle age. A native of Wuxing, Zhejiang (now Huzhou, Zhejiang). A famous calligrapher, painter, and poet from the late Southern Song Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty, he was the eleventh grandson of Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and the direct descendant of Qin King Zhao Defang.
Zhao Mengfu
One of the most outstanding calligraphers of the Yuan Dynasty: Zhao Mengfu was born into a noble family and experienced changes in the Song and Yuan Dynasties throughout his life. His calligraphy is elegant and graceful, which is in sharp contrast with the vigorous style of the other three famous regular script masters. Zhao Mengfu was a very well-educated artist, and his accomplishments in painting were often praised by art historians.
Zhao Mengfu was erudite and talented. He was good at poetry and prose, understood economics, was good at calligraphy and painting, was good at epigraphy and stone, knew laws and regulations, and understood appreciation. In particular, he achieved the highest achievements in calligraphy and painting, creating a new style of painting in the Yuan Dynasty, and was known as the "Crown of the Yuan Dynasty". In painting, landscapes, figures, flowers and birds, bamboos and rocks, and pommel horses are omnipotent; fine brushwork, freehand brushwork, green, and ink are also masterful.
He already occupies an important position in the history of Chinese calligraphy. Zhao Mengfu began to study calligraphy since he was five years old. He continued to read and write calligraphy until his death. He was good at seal script, official script, Zhen script, Xing script, and cursive script, and was especially famous for his regular script and running script. The "History of the Yuan Dynasty" says, "Meng Fu's seal script, official script, Zhen script, and cursive script are all the best in ancient and modern times, so he is famous all over the world for his books."
Yushu Yushu of the Yuan Dynasty said in "Kong Xue Zhai Ji": "Zi'ang's seal script, Li, Zhen, Xing and Diancao are the best in the contemporary era, and his small regular script is the best among all Zi'ang's calligraphy styles." His calligraphy style Emotional, elegant, neat structure, mature brushwork, known as "Zhao style" in the world.
Reference source for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Four Masters of Regular Script