Xuanmita (Mysterious Pagoda) Stele

Liu Gongquan (778-865) was a Chinese calligrapher who stood with Yan Zhenqing as one of the two great masters of late Tang calligraphy. Liu was a native of Shaanxi province, a devout Buddhist and follower of Yan's style of writing.

He first learned the handwriting of Wang Xizhi. As he read more calligraphic books closer to his time, he switched to the handwriting of Yan Zhengqing and blended into it his own creative style - a simplified regular script.

His characters are of moderate build, not as slim as those of the early Tang Masters or as chubby as those of Yan Zhenqing. The strokes are in tightly knitted character in the middle and stretched on all sides. And the thickness of the strokes is equally emphasized, known as "muscle of Yan and bone of Liu." Liu's works, like those of Yan, were imitated for centuries after. He is often referred in unison with his famed predecessor as "Yan-Liu."

Liu served in many government official posts for seven emperors, and died a teacher of a prince at age 88. He left a great many calligraphic works, and the most famous ones are Xuanmita (Mysterious Pagoda) Stele.

Author: Jessie