Chapter 14: The Master of One Generation - Du He

  Du Huai didn't think that he was just showing off for a moment, but it would become so exaggerated that even Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin knew about it. He cursed the 18th generation ancestors of Kong Yingda in his heart and followed Du Ruhui to see Yu Shinnan, Chu Suiliang and Ouyang Xun.

  Du Ruhui was a noble prime minister, but he had no arrogance or airs about him, and personally came out of his mansion to welcome them.

  Du He followed behind, and from a distance, he saw three people standing outside the mansion.

  The first one was a frail old man with white hair and beard. Behind him were two others: one was also an elderly man, wearing simple Confucian robes, with a ruddy complexion and standing upright like a pine tree, looking quite spirited. The other was relatively much younger, only in his forties, with thick eyebrows and small eyes, and a long face that resembled a donkey's, not very pleasant to look at, and somewhat comical.

  "Mr. Yu, Mr. Ouyang, Brother Chu, Du has kept you waiting for a long time and feels apologetic in his heart." He greeted the three while introducing Du He to them, "This is Xiaoquan Du He, Second Son, hasn't he come to pay respects to several uncles yet?"

  Du He's mouth twitched slightly.

  Puppy?

  Du He felt very uncomfortable after hearing this, these ancient people are just weird. Humility is a traditional virtue of China, Du He does not reject it. But humility is one thing, why call your own son Xiao Quan (Little Dog)? I am Little Dog, what are you?

  The only drawback of the Tang Dynasty is that there are too many etiquette, and you have to bow when you meet your elders. Although it's a symbol of politeness, people like Du He who come from the 21st century can't stand being forced to bow every time they meet someone.

  However, in front of outsiders, Du He couldn't lose face for the Du family either. "Du He has met Yu Bo Bo, Ouyang Bo Bo, and Chu Shu Shu. Junior nephew has long admired the great names of the three uncles and had intended to ask them to teach him calligraphy, unfortunately, there was never an opportunity to meet."

  The three people with the most nonsense were flushed with excitement.

  Chu Suiliang, with a donkey-like face, smiled and said: "I dare not accept your instruction, the four characters written by my virtuous nephew to Mr. Kong are like towering pines, strong and majestic, making people admire. Mutual instruction is the truth."

  Yu Shinnan and Ouyang Xun also nodded in agreement with Chu Suiliang's words.

  Du He was truly honored and surprised, unaware of why the few words he wrote could receive unanimous praise from these three calligraphy masters, who have occupied a place in China's thousands of years of calligraphy history.

  Du Ru Hui invited three people to go to the hall for a chat.

  Made some polite conversation.

  Yu Shinnan let out a long sigh: "Director Du's thoughts are like dust, we came with the intention that Director Du must have already guessed. Let's not pretend anymore, the calligraphy style created by your son is similar to regular script but not quite, each stroke and movement is like a knife cutting through wood, majestic and powerful, it really makes us admire. I wonder if it's possible to discuss books and paintings with your son together, to fulfill my heart's desire."

  "Created by Lao Lao!"

  Du He's heart slightly trembled, and he suddenly enlightened, finally understanding why Kong Yingda would publicly acknowledge him as his master, finally understanding why Yu Shinnan, Ouyang Xun, and Chu Suliang, these three famous calligraphers, valued him so much.

  Yu Shinnan's "Creation" has already made everything clear.

  Duhe's regular script is Yan Ti, a style of regular script created by the calligraphy master Yan Zhenqing. It has been widely spread and had the greatest influence among all styles of regular scripts. Later generations learning regular script have all taken Yan Zhenqing's Yan Ti as their main model.

  It's only now in the tenth year of Zhenguan, Yan Zhenqing is probably still a kid playing with pee and mud, let alone creating Yan-style characters.

  Edison's inventions are basically unrecognizable in the 21st century, but if you ask who is the greatest inventor of all time, there is no doubt that it is Edison, even if all his inventions have been eliminated.

  Because he pioneered some of them, he was the first person to grasp this technical theory.

  Yan Zhenqing's Yan-style regular script is like Edison's invention. At that time, there were several ways to write regular script, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, but Yan Zhenqing pioneered a new path, establishing the standard for Tang Dynasty regular script, which became widely recognized as the best.

  After Tang, many famous calligraphers drew lessons from Yan Zhenqing's successful innovation. They learned from the Two Wangs and then studied Yan Zhenqing to establish their own style. Su Shi once said: "Poetry reached its peak with Du Fu, literature with Han Yu, painting with Wu Daozi, and calligraphy with Yan Lu Gong, and all the changes of past and present, and all the things that can be done in the world are complete."

  Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy belongs to a person of hall level.

  Du He's calligraphy originated from Yan Zhenqing, and was also influenced by the famous calligrapher Su Shi. It has formed its own style, which is not to say that it can surpass Yan Zhenqing, but before the emergence of Yan's standard script, it is enough to be proud of in its time, and can be mentioned in the same breath as Yu Shinan, Ouyang Xun and Chu Suiliang.

  There is also another crucial point.

  Yu Shinan was a student of Zhiyong Chan, the seventh generation descendant of Wang Xizhi and a calligrapher of the Sui Dynasty. Ouyang Xun studied Han Li, while Chu Suiliang excelled in the styles of Wang Xizhi, Yu Shinan, and Ouyang Xun. Although they each had their own unique style, it is inevitable that there would be similarities between them.

  Du He is also similar, his font is at least 80% similar to Yan Ti Zi.

  Yan Zhenqing, although he studied under Ouyang Xun and Zhang Xu, his regular script is mostly innovative and self-created, making it even more difficult.

  The problem is that Yan Zhenqing is still a young kid, and Du He's imitation has become the original. Later, even if Yan Zhenqing creates the Yan-style font again, people will only think that Yan Zhenqing learned from Du He, but not that Du He learned from Yan Zhenqing.

  Du He was shocked by this news, and had inadvertently replaced Yan Zhenqing?

  To know that Yan Zhenqing is a giant in the world of calligraphy. For thousands of years, only Yan Zhenqing can be compared to the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi, able to stand tall and stride confidently in the world of calligraphy.

  Thinking of this, Du He couldn't help but feel a little proud and thought that his calligraphy in the future could be compared to that of Wang Xizhi, the Saint of Calligraphy, and was so delighted that he almost lost his bearings.

  "Second Brother, Second Brother!" Du Ruhui called out twice before finally waking up Du He.

  Seeing everyone looking at him, Du He smiled awkwardly and said: "Young nephew lost his composure, Uncle Yu's praise has left me speechless."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  Du Ruhui pulled out from his sleeve the "Gazing at the Cang Sea" that Du Fu had written earlier and said with a smile, "This is what Xiao Quan has just composed. How about we start with this?"

  Yu Shinnan, Ouyang Xun and Chu Suiliang came to visit mainly for a glimpse of Du Fu's treasure, who had any objection, all gathered in front to carefully observe.

  This "Viewing the Ocean" is a fine work by Du Mu, fully displaying the grandeur of his calligraphy. Matching the poem's majestic tone, the artistic conception is excellent.

  Three famous calligraphers were almost stunned on the spot, praising and evaluating one after another. Especially Ouyang Xun, who was extremely excited.

  Ouyang Xun's calligraphy is mainly based on regular script, and he is one of the four great masters of regular script in history, second only to Yan Zhenqing. His imitation of Han Li created the famous "Ou Kai".

  "This young friend's calligraphy in the style of Yan Zhenqing is not as delicate as existing model calligraphy, but its brushwork is bold and powerful, with a unique structure. What's more, it has a grand momentum and an even better artistic conception. Wonderful! Wonderful!" He was so impressed by Du He's handwriting that he wanted to treat him as an equal despite being eighty years old, and started calling him "Du He, young friend".

  Yu Shinnan and Chu Suiliang were not yet skilled in regular script, but they also saw that Du He's characters were indeed different from others, and without being presumptuous, they were willing to be on an equal footing with him and study calligraphy together.

  Yu Shinnan, Ouyang Xun and Chu Suiliang were all deeply immersed in calligraphy for a long time. The longest was sixty years, while the shortest, Chu Suiliang, was also thirty years. In terms of mastery, they far surpassed Du Huadu. Therefore, when discussing the subtleties of calligraphy, he often listened quietly on one side.

  Ran Duhe, after all, had two thousand years of experience, and some later generations' insights were beyond Yu Shi Nan, Ouyang Xun, and Chu Suiliang's understanding. Occasionally spouting a few transcendent phrases could also make the three men listen in a daze, exclaiming in delight.

  The four of them exchanged treasures until deep into the night before they finally dispersed.

  Recognized by the most famous calligraphers of this generation as a master of calligraphy, Du He's reputation is now firmly established.

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