Wang Xizhi (32 1-379) was born in Linyi, Shandong. At the age of seven, he began to study calligraphy with Mrs. Wei, and then traveled to famous mountains and rivers, extensively collecting famous calligraphy works of Qin and Han dynasties, forming a unique style of peace, nature, strangeness, boldness and implicit taste, and creating a beautiful and convenient new book style. Preface to Lanting Collection is his masterpiece. In the development of calligraphy, Wang Xizhi plays the role of connecting the past and the future, and has always been known as the "sage of calligraphy".
Ou Yangxun (557-64 1) was born in Changsha, Hunan. His calligraphy in his early years gained Wang Xizhi's brushwork, and his masterpiece "Jiuchenggong Liquan Ming" has the characteristics of Wang Xizhi's regular script. Ou Yangxun also extensively studied the inscriptions in the Northern Dynasties, and absorbed the strengths of other calligraphers in the Tang Dynasty, forming a unique style of being vigorous, dangerous and strict, which is called "European style". The biggest feature of the European body is "danger and strength", while seeking stability in danger and strength. Like a tall building on a cliff, it looks breathtaking, but it is built smoothly and firmly.
Another great calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty was Yan Zhenqing (709-785), a native of Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi, Shaanxi). His calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, which fully shows a great innovative spirit that is not bound by Wei and Jin calligraphy, which is unprecedented among calligraphers in the Tang Dynasty.
His calligraphy has a dignified, heavy, simple and broad beauty, showing a graceful, generous, open and magnificent spirit.
Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy opened up a new realm after Wei and Jin Dynasties, representing the second peak of calligraphy in Tang Dynasty, enriching China's calligraphy art and having a great influence on later generations. His famous inscriptions include "Multi-Tower Induction Monument", "Magu Fairy Altar Story", "Yanjiamiao Monument", "Yan Monument", "Contention for Seats" and "Summary of Sacrifice to Nephew".
Liu Gongquan (778-865), a native of Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province, was a calligrapher with Yan Zhenqing in the Tang Dynasty. He is also the representative of the second peak of calligraphy in Tang Dynasty. Wang Xizhi's calligraphy had a great influence on Liu Gongquan's early years, but Liu Gongquan also attached great importance to absorbing the achievements of calligraphy since Sui and Tang Dynasties, thus gradually creating his own vigorous and delicate style. In his calligraphy, there are many elements that absorb facial expressions. He emphasizes the beauty of bone strength in his brushwork, but it also has a beautiful charm. He is skilled and structured, but open and natural. Compared with Yan Ti, Liu Ti and Liu Ti see macro in beauty, and Yan Ti sees beauty in macro, each with its own characteristics, so it is called "Yan Gu". Liu Gongyi's famous inscriptions are: mysterious tower, Shence army monument and so on.
Although the regular script in Song Dynasty is not as good as that in Tang Dynasty, there is still a new situation in cursive script. As the saying goes, calligraphy is "Jin, Tang Shangfa and Song Shangyi". In Song Dynasty, calligraphy emphasized attitude and the expression of personal thoughts and feelings. Su Shi is such a calligrapher.
Su Shi (1036-1101), a native of Meishan, Sichuan, is a knowledgeable writer and painter. He likes writing best in his life. He writes almost every time he sees a pen or paper, but he never likes people asking him for words. He paid great attention to inscriptions in his early years, and especially admired Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy in his later years. However, his own calligraphy is not confined to one family, but on the basis of inheriting many achievements, he created his own calm, vigorous and bold calligraphy style, which reached a beautiful realm different from Wei, Jin and Tang Dynasties.
Su Shi believes that "calligraphy is impermanent", but it is not impossible to find it, but it does not stick to the previous rules. He also argues that calligraphy can only benefit from learning and rich knowledge, otherwise it will be in vain. He has a famous saying: "It is not enough to retreat into the mountains. You can understand God only by reading thousands of books." It means: learning calligraphy has no knowledge and opinions, but only copying, even if the kung fu is great, it is only a formality; Only by reading a lot of books and having an open mind can you write with charm. Su Shi's famous inscriptions include: cold food poems, red wall poems, Zhongshan Songlao poems, Dongting Spring Poems and so on.