If a person is crazy in character, most of them will not be satisfied in society, and most of them will be frustrated and losers in officialdom and shopping malls; but those who are crazy in art are mostly outstanding achievers. Because these people have their own life beliefs and artistic pursuits and are not influenced by others. The same is true for calligraphy monsters. The following ten crazy people did not do much in politics, but they made amazing achievements in the art of calligraphy.


1. Wang Xizhi: People at the time called it "unconventional".

Wang Xizhi (303-361, first 321-379), courtesy name Yishao, Han nationality, a famous calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, known as the "Sage of Calligraphy".

Where is the blame:Wang Xizhi was known as a "bone man". Although he was born in a wealthy family, he was not interested in politics, and people at the time called him "unconventional". Taiwei Xijian sent people to Wang's house to choose a son-in-law. He "eat with his stomach open on the east bed, as if he didn't hear it", which shows his madness. However, Wang Xizhi's brilliant calligraphy achievements established him as a calligrapher in history.

Calligraphy by Wang Xizhi


2. Zhang Xu: He is fond of drinking, often gets drunk, and often writes with his hair dipped in ink.

Zhang Xu (675-approximately 750), with the courtesy name Bogao and the first courtesy name Jiming, Han nationality, was born in Wu County (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province) in the Tang Dynasty. He was alive during Kaiyuan and Tianbao.

Where is the blame:Because of his crazy personality, he was called "Zhang Dian" at that time. Unable to achieve political ambitions, but "to the book, the Xuanyuan cannot be moved, the poor and the humble cannot be subdued, and the self-satisfaction will last for the rest of his life." He is fond of drinking and often gets drunk. When drunk, he often writes with his hair dipped in ink. The genius in writing has made Zhang Xu the reputation of "the first person in wild grass".

Zhang Xu Calligraphy


3. Yang Ning style: pretending to be crazy and acting stupid to protect himself, and was called "Crazy Yang" at the time.

Yang Ningshi (873-954), courtesy name Jingdu and nickname Xubai, was born in Huayin, Shaanxi. During Tang Zhaozong's time, he was a Jinshi, an official secretary Lang, and later served as an official in the Later Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, and Zhou dynasties. He was an official until the crown prince Taibao. He is known as "Yang Shaoshi" in the world.

Where is the blame:Yang Ningshi of the Five Dynasties was born in troubled times. He pretended to be crazy to protect himself, and was called "Crazy Yang" at that time. The five dynasties of the Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Han, Later Jin, and Later Han, who served as officials, seemed to have achieved something politically, but they kept a distance from those in power in their bones, and pursued the art of calligraphy. His calligraphy is exquisite in structure, elegant in charm and unique in style. Huang Tingjian praised and said, "People in the world try their best to learn Lanting noodles, and want to exchange mortal bones without golden pills; who knows that Luoyang lunatic Yang can write as soon as he writes."

Yang Ning's Calligraphy


4. Mi Fu: He is wild, known as Mi Dian.

Mi Fu [fú] (1051-1107), a calligrapher and painter in the Northern Song Dynasty. His ancestral home was Taiyuan, Shanxi, and moved to Xiangyang, Hubei, and later settled in Runzhou (now Zhenjiang, Jiangsu). One of the four families of Song Dynasty. He once served as a school secretary, a doctor of calligraphy and painting, and a member of the Ministry of Rites.

Where is the blame:Mi Fu is a wild man, known as Mi Dian. In calligraphy, he devoted himself to learning from the strengths of a hundred schools of thought, and finally blazed a path of calligraphy with a personal face. His running script is neat and vigorous, and the structure is straight and white, reaching a state of perfection. Later generations learned Mizi like crucian carp crossing the river, but none of them reached the height of Su Shi's comment on Mizi that "the horse is in the wind, calm and happy". It can be said that one can learn similarity in form, but not similarity in spirit.

Mi Fu Calligraphy


5. Song Huizong Zhao Ji: Inactive in politics, but obsessed in art.

Song Huizong Zhao Ji (May 5, 1082-June 5, 1135), the eleventh son of Song Shenzong, younger brother of Song Zhezong, and the eighth emperor of the Song Dynasty. He was successively named King Suining and King Duan.

Where is the blame:The blame of Song Huizong is that as an emperor, he was politically ineffective and incompetent, but he was very obsessed with art, and made extraordinary achievements in literature, calligraphy, and painting. It seems that "men are afraid of choosing the wrong line" is justified. But Song Huizong couldn't choose his own life path, and his tragedy was inevitable.

Song Huizong Calligraphy


6. Yang Weizhen: Calligraphy is unconventional and unconventional. It is said that "stippling is messy and has a chaotic style".

Yang Weizhen (1296-1370) was a famous poet, writer, calligrapher, painter and dramatist in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. The word Lianfu, nicknamed Tieya, Tiedi Taoist, also known as Tiexin Taoist, Tieguan Taoist, Tielong Taoist, Plum Blossom Taoist, etc. In his later years, he called himself Laotie, Baoyi Old Man, Dongweizi, Fengqiao Quan, Kuaiji (Zhuji, Zhejiang) congregation.

Where is the blame:In the Yuan Dynasty, Yang Weizhen had a bad personality, so his official career was not smooth. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the peasant uprising broke out, and he disappeared in the Jianghu. Yang Weizhen's calligraphy can be described as "ugly calligraphy", which is incompatible with the calligraphy style of Zhao Mengfu, the leader of the calligraphy circle in the Yuan Dynasty. But Yang Weizhen's calligraphy is unconventional, which is the most valuable quality of a calligrapher.

Calligraphy by Yang Weizhen


7. Xu Wei: He suffered from schizophrenia and was imprisoned for six years for killing his wife.

Xu Wei (1521-1593), Han nationality, was born in Shanyin, Shaoxing Prefecture (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang). The first character was Wenqing, and later it was changed to Wenchang. Yinbuyi, Baiyanshanren, Ebishannong and other aliases. Chinese Ming Dynasty writer, calligrapher and painter.

Where is the blame:He suffered from schizophrenia and was imprisoned for six years for killing his wife. His life was rough and his evening was bleak. Influenced by Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind, he advocates "beginning with learning and ending with nature", "what is made by nature is not accomplished by heaven, it comes from oneself and not from others". Due to his unique artistic value concept, he has made amazing achievements in poetry, calligraphy and painting, opera and so on. Xu Wei's calligraphy is majestic, focusing on spirit rather than form. It is not only the catharsis of individual liberation, but also the expression of melancholy and depression.

 Xu Wei Calligraphy


8. Jinnong:There is a strange temper in making friends, and he will roll his eyes at those who look down on him.

Jinnong (1687-1763) was a calligrapher and painter in the Qing Dynasty, the first of the Eight Eccentrics in Yangzhou. Named Shoumen, Sinong, Jijin, nicknamed Mr. Dongxin, Jiliu Shanmin, Qujiang Waishi, Xiye Jushi, etc., was born in Qiantang (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang), and lived in common clothes for life.

Where is the blame:As one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, Jin Nong is very bold in the pursuit of artistic style. He is committed to the artistic pursuit of "no slave books and handmaid books", seeks innovation and change, and has achieved high artistic achievements.

Jinnong Calligraphy


9. Deng Shiru: Don't buy into Fang Gang's account.

Deng Shiru (1743-1805), a great calligrapher in the Qing Dynasty. Han nationality, from Huaining, Anhui. Seal carver and calligrapher in Qing Dynasty, founder of Deng School.

Where is the blame:Deng Shiru is a real commoner calligrapher. His eccentricity is manifested in that he does not buy into the account of the rich and powerful Weng Fanggang in the capital. As a master of seal and official calligraphy in the Qing Dynasty, Deng Shiru made an indelible contribution to the development of stele calligraphy. Yigao is bold, and his eccentricity is beyond reproach.

Deng Shiru Calligraphy


10. Wu Changshuo: After serving as the county magistrate for one month, he resigned to pursue art.

Wu Changshuo (1844.8.1—1927.11.29), formerly known as Jun, styled Changshuo, nicknamed Foulu, Kutie, etc., Han nationality, was born in Anji, Zhejiang. A key figure in the transitional period of the development of Chinese modern and modern calligraphy and painting art.

Where is the blame:Wu Changshuo's strange performance is that he resigned from office and started art just one month after he became the county magistrate. Art is more important to him than official position. This kind of thinking is not something ordinary people have. It is precisely this very human value pursuit that has made Wu Changshuo a generation of masters of painting and calligraphy.


Calligraphy by Wu Changshuo