书圣 书圣
shū shèngㄕㄨ ㄕㄥˋ
the Sage of Calligraphy
The honorary title for the greatest calligrapher, usually meaning [[王羲之]] himself.
王羲之
Wáng Xīzhīㄨㄤˊ ㄒㄧ ㄓ
Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy
Eastern Jin master (303–361) whose running script set the standard for all later calligraphy.
兰亭集序 兰亭集序
Lántíngjí Xùㄌㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄒㄩˋ
Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering
The 'best running script under heaven', Wang Xizhi's preface written at a poetry party in 353.
楷书四大家 楷书四大家
kǎishū sì dàjiāㄎㄞˇ ㄕㄨ ㄙˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄚ
the Four Great Masters of regular script
Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan and Zhao Mengfu, the four models every 楷书 student studies.
欧阳询 欧阳询
Ōuyáng Xúnㄡ ㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ
Ouyang Xun
Early Tang calligrapher (557–641) whose lean, dangerous regular script is the first of the four models.
颜真卿 颜真卿
Yán Zhēnqīngㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄣ ㄑㄧㄥ
Yan Zhenqing
Tang loyalist (709–785) whose massive, upright script is the model of moral force in calligraphy.
柳公权 柳公权
Liǔ Gōngquánㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ
Liu Gongquan
Late Tang master (778–865) of the spare, bony 柳体: 'Yan's flesh, Liu's bones'.
赵孟頫 赵孟頫
Zhào Mèngfǔㄓㄠˋ ㄇㄥˋ ㄈㄨˇ
Zhao Mengfu
Song-dynasty prince serving the Yuan (1254–1322) whose graceful script closed the Four Masters list.
宋四家
Sòng sìjiāㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄚ
the Four Masters of the Song dynasty
Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu and Cai Xiang, the personalities of Song calligraphy.
瘦金体 瘦金体
shòujīntǐㄕㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄧˇ
Slender Gold script
Emperor Huizong's unmistakable needle-thin style, elegant, sharp, and impossible to imitate well.
怀素 怀素
Huáisùㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄙㄨˋ
Huaisu, the mad monk of cursive
Tang Buddhist monk (725–785) whose wild cursive is paired with Zhang Xu's: 'the crazy Zhang and drunk Su'.
王献之 王献之
Wáng Xiànzhīㄨㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄓ
Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xizhi's seventh son (344–386), the 'Little Sage' who nearly matched his father.
文房四宝 文房四宝
wénfáng sìbǎoㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄤˊ ㄙˋ ㄅㄠˇ
the Four Treasures of the Study
Brush, ink, paper and inkstone, the calligrapher's complete toolkit.
毛笔 毛笔
máobǐㄇㄠˊ ㄅㄧˇ
the writing brush
Animal-hair brush on a bamboo handle, soft, expressive, and the hardest writing tool to master.