The story of the famous calligrapher in ancient China

First, the official script created by Cheng Miao (Qin)

According to legend, a man named Cheng Miao created official script in Qin Dynasty. Cheng Miao started as a small official in a county and was responsible for copying relevant documents.

Later, because he committed a crime, he was put into the prison of Yunyang County (now northwest of Chunhua County, Shaanxi Province) by Qin Shihuang. In prison, there is nothing to do all day He remembered that when copying documents in the past, the characters in the Qin Dynasty were complicated and difficult to write, so he had the idea of changing the writing method of Xiao Zhuan characters.

I thought about it in prison for several years, and then collected and studied it for several years after I got out of prison. Ten years have passed. On the basis of seal script, Cheng Miao simplified the evolution of seal script, changed the original round strokes of seal script into square folds, and changed the original pictographic structure like painting into strokes, so that Chinese characters can be written better than before.

After Cheng Miao's successful research, he wrote down 3,000 official script words that he collected and studied successfully in 10 and gave them to Qin Shihuang. After Qin Shihuang saw it, he appreciated Cheng Miao very much and appointed him as the suggestion.

At that time, there were many official documents submitted to the emperor, and it was difficult to write seal script, so the number of people using official script increased. Because this font is mostly used by low-ranking officials and is convenient to write, it is called official script.

Second, Xiao He's Deep Thinking (Western Han Dynasty)

Xiao He, Minister of the Western Han Dynasty, helped Liu Bang to establish the Han Dynasty. Because of his merits, Liu Bang made him a commendatory minister, and later promoted him to be the prime minister. Xiao He's handwriting is very good, especially good at writing on the plaque with a bald pen. Once, Xiao He was asked to write a temple name for a newly-built palace. After three months of hard thinking, Xiao He began to write.

On the day of writing, some people heard that it took Xiao He three months to finish it, and they all came from far away to read it. See Xiao He, like going out to war, the change of the wrist seems to be in command hordes. The words written seem to be the civil servants and military commanders led by him, and the words are meticulous and imposing. All the people present were deeply moved by his wonderful pen and ink.

Third, the "flat bed" (gold)

Wang Xizhi was a famous calligrapher in ancient China. He is recognized as a "calligrapher" because of his high artistic attainments in calligraphy. His Preface to Lanting Collection is still loved by calligraphy lovers. Wang Xizhi is the story of "sleeping with an open stomach". Chi Jian, an official of the Jin Dynasty, sent guests to the home of Prime Minister Wang Dao to choose a son-in-law, and Wang Dao led the guests to "go to the East Room to look after the children".

The janitor came back and said to Chi Jian, "The young people in the Wangs are all nice, but when they heard that there was a son-in-law candidate, they became stiff. Only one person ate openly in the east bed, as if nothing had happened. " Chi Jian said, "This is a good son-in-law." So I married my daughter to him. This son-in-law is Wang Xizhi. This is the story that "an enlightened woman" represents choosing a husband.

Fourth, night couplets (gold)

One year on New Year's Day, Wang Xizhi posted couplets three times in a row, and those who loved his words stole them. On New Year's Eve, I had to write another letter. He was afraid of being exposed again, so he cut it up and down and put it in half first. The first part is "double happiness" and the second part is "double misfortune". In this way, it really worked. When people saw that what he wrote was unlucky and not rich, they stopped revealing it.

At the beginning of the new year, Wang Xizhi posted half a sentence each, and the couplet became: "Happiness never ends today, but it never rains but it pours last night." Passers-by clapped their hands and sighed.

Verb (short for verb) Learn calligraphy (Tang)

Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong, was an emperor in China's feudal society. When dealing with political affairs, he often devotes himself to practicing calligraphy in his spare time. At that time, Yu Shinan, known as one of the four great calligraphers in the early Tang Dynasty, worked in the palace. Because he is proficient in ancient and modern times, his words are like gods, so Emperor Taizong has always respected him and often copied and studied Yu Shinan's calligraphy.

In the process of practicing calligraphy, Emperor Taizong deeply felt that the word "ge" in Shinan font was the most difficult to write, and it was not easy to write its spirit. On one occasion, he practiced "Yan" for fear that his writing would be bad and disgraceful, lest ministers read its jokes and deliberately leave the word "Ge" blank and privately ask Yu Shinan to make it up.

In order to show his progress in calligraphy, Emperor Taizong invited Wei Zhi, an admonition officer, to watch some works and asked Wei Zhi's opinion: "Do you think my handwriting looks like that of Yu Shinan, a bachelor?" Wei Zhi looked at it respectfully and carefully, and kept silent with a smile. At this time, Emperor Taizong asked him anxiously: "Is it like it? Why not talk? "

Wei Zhi immediately said, "I dare not comment on your handwriting." Emperor Taizong said, "You can speak frankly. I forgive your innocence. " At this time, Wei said, "According to the minister, only the' Ge' in the right half of the word' Yan' is basically the same as what Yu wrote, and the rest are quite different."

Hearing these words, Emperor Taizong sighed deeply and admired Wei Zhi's eyesight, thus realizing that learning calligraphy can't be fake at all. You must work hard if you want to succeed.