On The Calligraphy Of Li Yong

Li Yong can be remembered in the Chinese calligraphy history, because he is the first person who used xingshu to write the inscription in a large scale and a high grade. Li Yong himself had no intention to be treated as a calligrapher, and he thought more highly of his literature works than his calligraphy works. The calligraphy of Li Yong learned from Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi(Two-Wang),especially from the inscription—"Shengjiaoxu'''(The inscription was carved with the Chinese characters from Wang Xizhi's calligraphy works selected by Huairen, a famous Buddhist monk in Tang dynasty). He was the true successor to Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, and he was a skilled rather than gifted calligrapher, so his had more succession than innovation. The main meaning, in the history of Chinese calligraphy, of the calligraphy of Li Yong is that his practice broke the situation of pursuing the grace and the grave after Tang Taizong(Li Shimin, the second empire in Tang dynasty),and that he made xingshu, mainly used for letters or other everyday field use in the serious and public situations. The comments on the calligraphy works have some overstatement in the history, especially the comment of Dong Qichang(in Ming dynasty) that regarded him as the same as Wang Xizhi nearly becomes the final conclusion. Even so, the influence of his calligraphy gradually becomes weak. The reason is that he too actually to follow the way of Two-Wang, especially "Shengjiaoxu", that is, lack of innovation is the main reason for it.This paper is divided into five sections. In the first part, the time and his Official career are mainly discussed. By that, the tragedy of life is pointed out that it is the result of mutual trust politically and more or less of his own personality, too. In the second part, his scholarship foundation, his main social interaction and character traits are inspected, His popularity in his time related with his management a lot. The third part is based on his masterpieces kept today. By comparing their calligraphy works, the character of his calligraphy is concluded. In the forth part, the main viewpoints in the history of calligraphy about the calligraphy of Li Yong are sorted out and discussed, and some of the superficial words are erased, some of errors are indicated and its reasonable ones are revealed. With a view to put Li Yong into the historical background to make a more objective assessment is hoped. In the fifth part, the generations and impact of the calligraphy of Li Yong are introduced.