Introduction to Liu Gongquan
Liu Gongquan was a famous calligrapher and writer from the Tang Dynasty. He was one of the four masters of regular script and enjoyed a high reputation in the calligraphy circle. "Diamond Sutra Engraved Stone", "Mysterious Tower Stele", "Fengsu Stele", etc. are Liu Gongquan's classic masterpieces.
Appreciation of Liu Gongquan's works
Liu Gongquan was born in 778 AD and died in 865 AD. He died at the age of 88. He was a native of Tongchuan, Shaanxi. Liu Gongquan was born in a family of officials. His father Liu Ziwen once served as governor, and his brother Liu Gongchuo was a famous official in the Tang Dynasty. Liu Gongquan, who was born into an official family, was influenced by his family and was very talented in literature. When he was twelve years old, Liu Gongquan could write poems and poems. When Liu Gongquan was twenty-nine years old, he took part in the imperial examination and won the Jinshi in one fell swoop. He then entered the court and became an official and became a school secretary.
Politically, Liu Gongquan once served as a secretary in the three dynasties of Tang Muzong, Tang Jingzong and Tang Wenzong. During his reign, Liu Gongquan dared to make bold suggestions, for which he was appreciated by Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty. Once, Tang Wenzong mentioned that Han Wenzong was very frugal in his living habits, so he took his own sleeves as an example and claimed that he had washed these clothes three times. The ministers present all praised Wenzong's thrifty character, but Liu Gongquan remained silent. Wenzong asked him why he didn't speak? Liu Gongquan said that the most important thing for a monarch is to appoint talents and listen to the advice of upright ministers. Washing clothes is just a small detail and the monarch should not take fancy. Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty admired Liu Gongquan's ability to advise, so he appointed him as an advisor. After the death of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty came to the throne. Liu Gongquan was appreciated and reused by Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, and he was promoted to the position of crown prince and Taibao. After Liu Gongquan's death, the emperor posthumously granted him the title of Crown Prince and Grand Master.
In terms of calligraphy, Liu Gongquan copied and studied the works of calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi and Zhong Yao, and carried out reforms and innovations on this basis. In the direction of regular script calligraphy works, I carefully studied Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy techniques and fonts, and then carried out integration and innovation, creating the Liu style. Liu Gongquan's Liu style works have also become one of the representatives of Tang Shu Shangfa.