Zhang Xu - Chokyoku

Dates of birth and death unknown. A calligrapher from the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (first half of the 8th century) in China. His pen name was Bogao. He was from Wu Commandery (Jiangsu Province). He was known as Zhang Changshi because he was appointed as Chief Clerk of the Left Leading Office. He was taught the calligraphy of Lu Yanyuan, the son of Lu Yanzhi, and is said to have realized what cursive writing was when he saw the famous courtesan Gongsun Da Niang dancing with two long pieces of cloth in the air. He also liked alcohol, and when he got drunk he would go crazy while writing, and would write with ink on his hair, so he was known to the world as Zhang Dian. He was renowned as the leading cursive writer of his time, and is said to have founded the free-spirited "mad cao" style. He is said to have taught calligraphy to Yan Zhenqing and Li Yangbing, and influenced Huaisu and Gao Jian. His works in regular script include the "Langguan Sekiji," and his works in cursive script include the "Self-Speaking Book" and "Four Books of Ancient Poems."

[Shigenori Tsutsui]

"Calligraphy Masterpieces Series 168: Four Volumes of Ancient Poetry" (1971, Nigensha)" ▽ "Calligraphy Art 5: Zhang Xu and Others, edited by Nakata Yujiro" (1972, Chuokoron-Shinsha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。中国、唐代の玄宗朝（8世紀前半）の書家。字(あざな)は伯高。呉郡（江蘇(こうそ)省）の人。左率府長史の官についたので張長史とよばれる。陸柬之(りくかんし)の子の陸彦遠(げんえん)から「柬之の書法」を授けられ、名妓(めいぎ)公孫大娘(こうそんたいじょう)が2本の長い布を空中に舞わせる踊りを見て、草書の何たるかを悟ったといわれる。また酒を好み、酔えば狂ったようになって下筆し、髪に墨をつけて書いたので、世に張顛(ちょうてん)と称された。当時、草書の第一人者として高名で、自由奔放な「狂草」を創始したとされる。顔真卿(がんしんけい)や李陽冰(りようひょう)に筆法を授け、懐素や高閑に影響を与えたと伝えられる。楷書(かいしょ)の作品に『郎官石記(ろうかんせきき)』があり、草書の作品として『自言帖(じげんじょう)』『古詩四帖』などが知られている。

［筒井茂徳］

『『書跡名品叢刊168　古詩四帖』（1971・二玄社）』▽『中田勇次郎編『書道芸術5　張旭他』（1972・中央公論社）』

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