Introduction: The four major calligraphers of the Song Dynasty refer to: Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu and Cai Xiang. People call it "Suhuangmicai". Su Shi is natural, Huang Tingjian is vigorous, Mi Fu is elegant, and Cai Xiang is subtle. Each has its own demeanor and can be called a masterpiece. The four schools of the Song Dynasty drew heavily on the heritage of the Jin and Tang Dynasties, and were determined to innovate, each with its own strengths.
The Four Great Masters
Su Shi
Su Shi, courtesy name Zizhan, also known as Dongpo Jushi, was a native of Meishan (now part of Sichuan). He, his father Su Xun, and his younger brother Su Che and Su Dongpo are famous for their poetry and prose, and are known as "San Su" in the world. His calligraphy absorbed nutrients from "Er Wang", Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Chu Suiliang, Xu Hao, Li Beihai and Yang Ningshi, and worked hard to innovate on the basis of inheriting the tradition. When he talked about his calligraphy, he said: "The method of writing calligraphy is short-sighted and narrow-minded, and learning is not enough. The three of them will never be perfect. I can master it with my mind, my eyes, and my hands." When talking about his calligraphy art creation process, he said: "I can't create the original meaning of calligraphy, so I have to guess what I can do with my calligraphy." He focused on writing meaning and expressing his feelings in the dot paintings written in his handwriting. It is known as the third running script in the world.
Huang Tingjian
Huang Tingjian, courtesy name Luzhi, also known as Valley Taoist, Fu Weng, was born in Fenning, Hongzhou (now Xiushui, Jiangxi), and is known as "Huangshan Valley" in the world. The poet of the Northern Song Dynasty, together with Zhang Lei, Chao Buzhi and Qin Guan, traveled to study under Su Shi's family. He was known as the "Four Scholars of the Su family" in the world and founded the Jiangxi Poetry School. Zhang Xu's cursive calligraphy is admired by Zhang Xu, Huai Su's cursive calligraphy has a flying and free charm, Huang Tingjian has his own style. The writing style is tight and sharp, with sharp and thin strength, strong momentum, and varied structure.
Mi Fu
Mi Fu calligraphy Mi Fu, courtesy name Yuan Zhang, lived in Taiyuan for a long time and later settled in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. Huizong was awarded a doctorate in calligraphy and painting, and was known as "Minan Guan". He was also known as "Mi Dian" because of his crazy behavior. "History of the Song Dynasty? Wenyuan Biography" says: "Fu is particularly wonderful in calligraphy and ink, calm and flying, and captures Wang Xian's brushstrokes." "Xuanhe Shupu" says that he: "Most of his calligraphy is imitated by Xizhi, his poems are after Li Bai, his seal script is official, and he is a magistrate and an official. He said that 'those who are good at calligraphy have only one stroke, and I have four unique aspects'. Those who know it will understand." When Fang Fu was writing the book, people were vying to sell it as a rare piece of paper with figures on it. ? He worked hard to inherit the calligraphy tradition of "Er Wang" and was able to enter the palace. He can write in Zhen, Cao, Li, Zhuan and Xing, but is particularly good at Xing'an.
Cai Xiang
Cai Xiang, also known as Junmo. He was originally from Guangzhou, lived in Xianyou (now part of Fujian Province), and moved to Futian. He became a bachelor in Duanming Palace and knew Hangzhou. He was given the posthumous title Zhonghui. Gongzheng, Xing, Cao, Li script, and Fei Bai script, try to use loose brush to make cursive script, which is called "San Cao" or "Fei Cao". The world ranks Cai Xiang first in running script, second in small regular script, and third in cursive script.
The Four Masters of Calligraphy
The Four Masters of Calligraphy generally believe that the so-called Cai refers to Cai Xiang (Jun Mo). Cai Xiang’s calligraphy is based on the Jin and Tang Dynasties, and pays attention to ancient meanings and laws. The regular script is dignified and calm, the running script is pure and graceful, and the cursive script uses the Feibai method, which is called "Sancao". It is self-contained and very exquisite. Hongrenzong especially loved his books. He once made the inscriptions on the inscriptions of his uncle Yuanxi, King Longxi, and ordered them to be written on the inscriptions of his father. Cai Xiang's calligraphy art was also valued by literati at that time. Huang Tingjian once said: Su Zimei and Cai Junmo are both heroes of calligraphy. ("Collected Works of the Valley") Ouyang Xiu said: "Junmo is alone in the world, but he is humble and refuses to lead an alliance." ("Collection of Ouyang Wenzhonggong") Su Wu pointed out in "Dongpo Inscriptions and Postscripts": "Ducai Junmo is highly talented, has profound knowledge, has the same mind and hand, and has endless perversions, so he is the best in this dynasty." Since he is the number one calligrapher in this dynasty, and since his calligraphy can already lead the alliance, it is well deserved to be listed among the four. However, since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there has been another theory. From the perspective of the order of the four families and the characteristics of the calligraphy style of the times, "Cai" originally refers to Cai Jing, but later generations disliked him as a person, so they replaced him with Cai Xiang. he. Zhang Chou, a connoisseur of calligraphy and painting in the Ming Dynasty, said in "Qinghe Painting and Calligraphy Boat": "Those who were called Su, Huang, Mi and Cai in Song Dynasty's calligraphy records were also Weijing." Later generations hated his behavior, so he left the hall and went to Junmo Shu'er. Jun Mo was in front of Su and Huang, and should not be listed behind Yuan Zhang. There was no doubt that he was the capital. The beauty of Jing's calligraphy is not comparable to that of Junmo. ?Sun Plate of the Ming Dynasty also said:? Among the four great masters of the Song Dynasty, Cai is Cai Jing. Today, it is easy to refer to Junmo, and the predecessors are inverted ("Postscript of Calligraphy and Painting"). An Shifeng's "Mo Lin Kuai Shi" then replaced Cai Jing's book title and was unfairly covered up. , said: "Cai Bian is better than Cai Jing, and Cai Jing is better than Cai Xiang. Now we know that there is a ban, but we don't know that there is another Cai. How can we be lucky or unfortunate like this?"
Qing Hang Shijun's "The Sequel to the Corruption Series" also lists "Su Huangmi, Cai Fei, and Cai Xiang" as an example of someone's corruption. It can be seen that in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Cai Jing said, it had a great influence. Cai Xiang’s post. In all fairness, there is indeed some truth in what Cai Jing said. Cai Jing's calligraphy art is characterized by grace, boldness, joy and calmness. Compared with Cai Xiang, who preserved more "ancient methods", Cai Jing's calligraphy seems to be more innovative and better reflects the "shangyi" of the Song Dynasty. The aesthetic appeal of calligraphy. Therefore, he already enjoyed a high reputation at that time, and many people in the government and the public studied his calligraphy. The "Shu Shi Hui Yao" written by Jiayi of the Yuan Dynasty once quoted a commentator at the time as saying: "The writing is strict but not formal, and the style is relaxed but not formal. The formal writing is like a gentleman with a crown and sword, discussing in the temple; the running writing is like a prince with a noble stomach, and he is high-spirited." , the brilliance shoots people; the big-character crown is the only one in the world today, and there are few couples. ?It can even reflect Cai Jing’s status in the art of calligraphy at that time. Secondly, Cai Xiang's calligraphy was regarded as "the best in this dynasty" in the early Northern Song Dynasty. However, since the new style of Song Dynasty calligraphy was formed in the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, people gradually criticized Cai Xiang's calligraphy. In "Dongpo's Inscriptions and Postscripts", Su Dongpo mentioned many times that those who have discussed Jun Mo's calligraphy in recent years have quite different opinions. He believes that Jun Mo is the best in the world, but the commentators may not be the same. Although Su Shi always insisted that Cai Xiang was the first, at least in the middle and late Northern Song Dynasty, people's evaluation of Cai Xiang was no longer so consistent. Thirdly, from the perspective of the ranking order, there is an obvious age order among the three families of Su, Huang and Mi. Cai Xiang was from Renzong's time and was the oldest. He was listed after Mi Fu who was under Zhezong and Huizong. There are indeed some doubts.
In this regard, those who insist on "Cai Xiang's theory" refute, believing that although the theory of "Four Schools of Song Dynasty" has not been seen in Song literature so far, Wang Cun, a survivor of the Southern Song Dynasty and a native of the Yuan Dynasty, has clearly put forward it. The theory of "four schools". In his ink ink in the "Postscript of Cai Xiang Tao River Stone Inscriptions", he said that Cai Xiang's calligraphy was sparse and self-contained, and that he was one of the four calligraphers at that time. From a taster's perspective, Dongpo's Hunhao has the strongest expression, Fu Weng is thin and hard and has a spiritual connection, and Xiangyang changes vertically and horizontally. However, it is better to put the pen down in all cases. If you act indifferently and look at those who are holding the rope and ruler, even if you indulge yourself and look at the three families, then you will not rely on the Zhongzheng. It can be seen that Wang Cun not only pointed out that there were four schools at that time, but also that the four schools were unmistakably Su, Huang, Mi, and Cai. In addition, in the history of calligraphy, Cai Xiang is famous for his comprehensive achievements in calligraphy. He is unique in regular script, running script and cursive script. He also abandoned calligraphy and contributed to the revitalization of calligraphy style. Therefore, overall, his achievements obviously surpass Cai Jing's. . As for the order of arrangement, the recent scholar Zhang Boju once pointed out in the article "Book of Four Families of the Song Dynasty" that the order should be Cai, Su, Mi, and Huang. In general, it is read as Su, Huang, Mi, and Cai. The yin and yang are equal to the sun. Has it become a habit? This shows that this arrangement is only formed by the smooth pronunciation and has nothing to do with the seniority of the four families.
It seems that what Cai Jing said is not nonsense, and what Cai Xiang said is also reasonable and well-founded. Since Cai Jing is one of the "six thieves", it is difficult for people to accept him emotionally, so people tend to lean towards Cai Xiang's theory. However, the final conclusion on this issue seems to await confirmation from Song Dynasty documents.