Tang Huaisu, Running Script of the Thousand Characters

Author: Jiang Yin
Publisher: Xiling Press
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Huai Su (737-? AD), styled Zangzhen, was traditionally said to have a secular surname of Qian and was from Lingling, Yongzhou (now Lingling, Hunan). He grew up in poverty and was tonsured as a monk in a temple in Changsha. From some point, Huai Su became fascinated with calligraphy. In his spare time practicing Zen, he devoted himself entirely to calligraphy. Practicing calligraphy requires a lot of paper, but Huai Su could not afford so much. He thus followed the ancient example of writing poems on banana leaves, planting ten acres of banana trees to use their leaves as paper. Huai Su also painted a tray and a wooden board for writing, writing and erasing repeatedly until the tray and board were worn through. He had a pile of broken brushes, which he later buried at the foot of a mountain, earning the nickname "Brush Mound." Huai Su was humble and eager to learn. He traveled around with a backpack and staff, visiting contemporary masters and receiving guidance and encouragement from figures like Yan Zhenqing and Wei Zhi. From these masters, Huai Su also saw the calligraphic works of many famous calligraphers from previous generations, studying and imitating them to grasp the essence of each style. Huai Su was also exceptionally observant. He gained insights into brushwork from the changing weather patterns of summer, much like Zhang Xu, who once found the essence of calligraphy by watching female acrobats perform with swords. Their methods were remarkably similar in their ingenuity. Huai Su had a deep love for cursive script. He learned from the () of Zhang Changshi (Zhang Xu) while also innovating, forming his own unique style and surpassing his predecessors in excellence.