Friday, November 26, 2010

Chu Suiliang’s Story 褚遂良逸事

Chu Suiliang (597–658) learned calligraphy from OuyangXun and Yu Shinan successively and later was influenced by Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi’s calligraphy. He was therefore able to learn from different styles and took the advantage to create his own style, known as ‘Chu Style Calligraphy’.
When Chu Suiliang was young, his calligraphy was praised by Ouyang Xun. However, Yu Shinan’s calligraphy was what Chu admired most. One day, Chu asked Yu, ‘What do you think of my calligraphy as compared to that of Zhi Yong?’ Yu was one of Zhi Yong’s best students, so he replied: ‘I heard a word written by Zhi Yong is worth $50,000. Do you think your calligraphy can fetch that price?’ Chu asked again: ‘How about comparing with the calligraphy of Ouyang Xun?’ Yu replied, ‘I heard Ouyang can use any type of ink to write on any paper, and yet still can achieve result with utmost satisfaction effortlessly. Do you think you can do the same?’ Thinking that he would not be able to do better than these great calligraphers, he was discouraged and said: ‘If this is the case, what is the point of wasting my time on learning calligraphy?’ Yu then tried to inspire him: ‘If you can reach a stage where you feel your writing is smooth, your brush move naturally and ink flow smoothly, and occasionally can produce masterly pieces, then all your effort is worthwhile.’ Chu Suiliang was indeed inspired, and since then his calligraphy had improved by leaps and bounds.
After Yu Shinan’s death, Emperor Taizong had, on one occasion, commented to the chancellor Wei Zheng that there was no one that he could discuss calligraphy with. Wei recommended Chu's calligraphy, and Emperor Taizong immediately summoned Chu into his presence and was very surprised at his calligraphic skills.
When, on another occasion, Emperor Taizong put out notices of rewards, requesting that people submit works of the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi to him, many people submitted works purported to be by Wang, and it became difficult to tell which were genuine and which were forged. Chu was put in charge of discerning these purported Wang works, and he was able to clearly distinguish them without mistakes, and it quickly became a favorite topic of conversation among the people.
Chu was a morally upright man who always offered honest advice to Emperor Taizong's reign. Once, When Emperor Taizong wanted to review the imperial historical records that Chu was responsible for keeping, Chu rebuffed Emperor Taizong, stating that it would be irregular for an emperor to look at how an imperial historian was writing about him. Emperor Taizong then made the comment, ‘Do you record the bad things I do as well?’ Chu responded, ‘It is my responsibility, and I would not dare not to record them.’ The chancellor Liu Ji then stated, ‘Even if Chu Suiliang does not record them, everyone will.’ Emperor Taizong agreed with both of them.
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褚遂良(597-658)连续跟欧阳询与虞世南学书法,后来受到二王书法的影响。因此他能够学到不同的书体而博取众长,创造自己的风格,世称‘褚体’。
年轻时,褚遂良的楷书得到欧阳询的欣赏,而他最佩服的是虞世南。有一次,他问虞世南,‘我的书法比起智永禅师怎么样?’虞世南是智永的高足,回答说:‘我听说智永写一个字能值五万,你能够像他这样吗?’褚遂良又问:‘那比起欧阳询来又怎么样?’虞世南说:‘听说欧阳询不择纸墨,都能写得称心如意,你难道能做到这样?’褚遂良听了十分灰心,看来自己的书法难以超越前人,他说:‘既然这样,我为什么要再把功夫花在书法上呢?’褚遂良便启发地说:‘如果手顺而笔墨调畅,碰上写得精彩的,也是非常值得的。’褚遂良受到启发,从此书法大进。
虞世南逝世后,唐太宗有一次对谏议大夫魏征提到从此没有人可以与他讨论书法了。魏征推荐褚遂良的书法。太宗立刻召见,并惊异于他的书法功力。
又有一次,唐太宗出通告奖赏那些呈献大书法家王羲之书法的人。很多人多呈献所谓王羲之的作品,一时真假难辨。褚遂良被任命鉴定真伪。他毫无差错地详细鉴定,一时传为佳话。
褚遂良是个正直有道德的人,时常给予太宗忠告。一次,太宗要评审褚遂良所管理的宫廷历史纪录。褚遂良拒绝太宗,说一个皇帝要观阅宫廷史官书写有关他的纪录,那时不正常的。太宗因此问道:‘那你有纪录那些有关我的不好的事件吗?’褚遂良回答:‘那是臣的责任,臣不敢不纪录。’宰相刘洎接着说:‘就算褚遂良不纪录,别人也会。’太宗对两人的说法,皆点头赞成。

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