Liu Zongyuan (A.D. 773- A.D. 8 19), a native of Hedong (now Ruicheng and Yuncheng, Shanxi), was one of the eight masters in Tang and Song Dynasties. He was a writer, philosopher, essayist and thinker in the Tang Dynasty. He was known as "Liu Hedong" and "Mr. Hedong" in the world, and was also known as "Liu Liuzhou" because of his official residence in Liuzhou. Liu Zongyuan and Han Yu are called Liu Han, Liu Yuxi is called Liu Liu, and Wang Wei, Meng Haoran and Wei Wuying are called Wang Meng.