Calligraphic Art of the Eight Great Literary Men during Tang and Song Dynasties

This article studies the calligraphic achievements and thoughts of the eight great literary men during the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279). By elaborating and commenting on the calligraphic works and theories they left behind, it points out the common grounds shared by them and the enlightenment embedded therein to people of today, namely: on the one hand, one's academic achievements may benefit his calligraphic accomplishments; on the other, one's political prestige may facilitate the more widespread reputation of his calligraphic art.