Tang Ouyang Tong Shuquan Nan Sheng Tomb Inscription

Author: Editorial Board of Selected Calligraphies from Ancient Stele and Inscriptions
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Ouyang Tong was a Tang Dynasty calligrapher, styled Tongshi, the fourth son of Ouyang Xun. He was from Linxiang, Tangzhou (now Changsha, Hunan). He served as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Bohai during the Yifeng period (676–678 AD). During his childhood, Ouyang Tong studied calligraphy under his mother, meticulously copying and diligently practicing, eventually achieving fame equal to his father. They were collectively known as the "Big and Small Ouyang."
The Qianan Sheng Mu Zhi (Epitaph for Lord Qianan), in full "Epitaph for Deceased Right Guard General of the Imperial Secretariat, concurrently Inspecting Supervisor of the Right Forest Guard, Supreme Guardian of the State, Posthumously Enfeoffed as Marquis of Bianzhou and Grand Protector of the Capital, Lord Zhu Jun." The epitaph cover is inscribed in seal script by Wang Xingzhen as "Epitaph for Deceased Lord Zhu." The main text is in regular script with forty-seven lines, each containing forty-seven characters, measuring 88 cm in height and 86.5 cm in width. This epitaph was carved in the twelfth month of the first year of the Tiulu era (679 AD). It was unearthed in Luoyang, Henan, in 1927 and later stored in the Henan Library.
The Qianan Sheng Mu Zhi is one of the two extant works by Ouyang Tong (the other being the Dao Yin Monk Stele). The calligraphy of this stele fully reflects the influence of his father's style. The structure is square and rigorous, with steady and robust brushwork. The starting strokes are heavy and square, the middle strokes are lean and firm, and the overall style is vigorous and evident.
The Qianan Sheng Mu Zhi is an excellent model for studying the regular script of the "Two Ouyangs" (Ouyang Xun and Ouyang Tong). It is now published in photolithography for the reference and practice of calligraphy enthusiasts.