The introduction of Cao Ba mentioned that Cao Ba was born in 704 AD and died in 770 AD. Cao Ba was a famous painter in the Tang Dynasty and his ancestral home was Qiao County. He is a descendant of Cao Mao, a nobleman of the Three Kingdoms. When he was young, he studied calligraphy and painting with Wang Xizhi and Mrs. Wei. He is particularly good at drawing horses. His representative works include "Nine Horses Picture" and "Winning Horse Picture".

Portrait of Cao Ba

Cao Ba was both civil and military in his youth, but his father was worried that Cao Ba would repeat the mistakes of his ancestors. When Cao Ba was very young, his father taught him the Seven Rules. Cao Ba felt the lessons of blood between brothers, so he decided to give up his official career and study calligraphy, learning from many famous calligraphers. But Cao Ba himself thought that he could not surpass Wang Xizhi, so he changed his painting. Therefore, Cao Ba made great achievements in painting and became famous all over the world at a young age.

As Caoba’s reputation grew, Caoba began to receive the attention of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. One day, Cao Ba was suddenly called into the palace. Tang Xuanzong asked him to restore the portraits of 24 heroes. Cao Ba wanted Tang Xuanzong to go home after he was done, but Tang Xuanzong had already prepared a maid for him in the palace. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was overjoyed after seeing Cao Ba's work and gave Cao Ba many fields and horses, hoping to keep Cao Ba. However, Cao Ba was indifferent and rejected Tang Xuanzong.

After the Anshi Rebellion broke out, Cao Ba was dismissed from his post because a painting was suspected of alluding to the Tang Dynasty. He has lived a homeless life ever since. When he wandered to Chengdu, he was penniless and had to make a living by painting portraits. Later, Du Fu finally found Caoba after several twists and turns. Du Fu also created "The Painting Belongs to General Cao Ba" and "See General Cao Painting Horses" for Cao Ba.

Evaluation of Cao Dam

Cao Ba, Han nationality, native of Qiao County, was a famous painter during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. He is a descendant of Cao Wei Emperor Cao Mao. Because of his outstanding painting skills, he was named General Zuowuwei by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. So, how do people view Cao Ba, who is both civil and military?

Cao Ba’s works

Cao Ba has been good at painting since he was a child. The famous painter Han Gan was one of his disciples. Du Fu, however, believed that Han Gan's works did not depict bones and flesh, but had their own form but no substance. When it comes to the combination of form and spirit, Caoba has always been better. When Cao Ba became famous, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty instructed him to restore the 24 heroes of Lingyan Pavilion and draw a map of horses. Because of his superb painting skills, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty gave him a hundred horses and fields, and named him General Zuowuwei, with the right to ignore government affairs. There were unforeseen circumstances on this day. During the Anshi Rebellion, Cao Ba was dismissed for allegedly insinuating against the Tang Dynasty. Later, he went into exile in Chengdu and lived in poverty. Du Fu is a famous poet. After many visits, he finally met Cao Ba because he admired his talent in painting. In addition, he also wrote two poems praising Cao Ba, namely "General Cao Ba Yin Tu" and "General Cao Painting Horses at the Secretary's House". It is believed that the picture of a horse that Durbar painted for Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty in the royal garden was so lifelike that if you don't look closely, the horse seems to be alive. What's even more amazing is that Caoba once mastered "Heroes of Lingyan Pavilion". Tang Xuanzong was overjoyed and nodded in praise.

It’s a pity that Cao Ba’s paintings are gone. Later generations can only look at it through Du Fu's poems and Xuanzong's evaluation. Du Fu wrote in a letter to General Cao Ba in "Painting Quotations" in 1988: "Later, your dragon and horse were born in the sky, washing the old horse's space. A jade flower stood on the platform, and a jade flower stood on the steps. They Marvel at each other." vividly demonstrates the combination of form and spirit in Cao Ba's works. At that time, people compared him to the ancestors of Sancao: "Wen Ruzhi and Wu Rugao's calligraphy and painting are comparable to Feng."

The story of Cao Ba

Cao Ba, a famous painter in the Tang Dynasty, was born in 704 AD and died in 770 AD. He has a good reputation, "Writing is like a martial art, calligraphy and painting are both worthy of painting." So, what is the folk story about dragons?

Cao Ba’s works

Cao Ba studied painting since he was a child and became a household name at a young age. At that time, Cao Ba became more and more famous and attracted the attention of Tang Xuanzong Li Longji. One day, while he was painting in his garden, he suddenly received an order from Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, asking him to go to Beijing to repair the Twenty-Four Heroes of Lingyan Pavilion. Cao Ba was helpless. Before leaving, he left "Let fame and fortune become clouds" in his unfinished painting to express his desire for fame and fortune.

After arriving in Beijing, Cao Ba told Tang Xuanzong that he wanted to return to his hometown after the renovation. Tang Xuanzong smiled and agreed. During the painting period, Xuanzong arranged for ten maids to serve Cao Ba. It took 49 days to restore the 24 heroes of Lingyan Pavilion. Their characters were all lifelike and breathtaking. Xuanzong nodded in thanks, but did not receive the promised reward. He even asked Cao Ba to draw another horse. Although Xuanzong reiterated that he would return to his hometown after finishing the painting, he just smiled and did not answer. Cao Ba had nothing to do, so he had to go to the Imperial Garden to complete the horse painting. A few days later, Xuanzong was overjoyed when he saw Cao Ba's work, and immediately ordered him to give him one hundred horses and ten thousand hectares of land. But Cao Ba still insisted not to be an official at first. Xuanzong had no choice but to appoint Cao Ba as General Zuowuwei, who had the right to ignore government affairs. After this incident, politicians scrambled to get Cao Ba's handwriting and were proud of his work.

The moon waxes and wanes, and so do people. During the Anshi Rebellion, Cao Ba was accused of insinuating the imperial court in one of his paintings. Later, he went into exile in Chengdu and made a living by painting for others.