Calligraphy Appreciation Ouyang Xun'S Small Script "Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra"

Tang Ouyang Xun Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra

Ouyang Xun is a famous calligrapher who spanned the Sui Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty. Ouyang Xun became an official in the Sui Dynasty and paid homage to Dr. Taichang. Dr. Taichang was an official of Taichang Temple, similar to today's teachers in colleges and universities. In the Tang Dynasty, Ouyang Xun was appointed Prince Shi Gengling, an official position in charge of royal etiquette. Tang Taizong Li Shimin liked calligraphy very much, so Ouyang Xun did not have any impact when he entered the Tang Dynasty as a courtier of the Sui Dynasty.

Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra Part 1

Ouyang Xun was good at regular script and was called one of the "Four Masters of Regular Script" by later generations. Ouyang Xun has many representative works in regular script, and some of them have rubbings handed down to the world. This volume of "Heart Sutra" is written in small regular script with strict font, center strokes and powerful transitions. The written content is "Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra" translated by Master Xuanzang.

Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra Part 2

Ouyang Xun's calligraphy was inherited from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and his pen was written from the official script. It is dignified and composed, the structure is tight, square and solemn, and the bearing is serious, with a kind of graceful and generous beauty. Therefore, the volume is written in small regular script, which is not only suitable for writing with a brush, but also suitable for modern people to write with a hard pen. The strength and muscles at the turning points of the strokes are also suitable for expressing with a hard pen.

Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra Part Three

There has always been controversy over whether Ouyang Xun's rubbings of the "Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra" in small regular script are Ouyang Xun's original works. Regardless of the style of the work, as far as the writing content is concerned, in the early years of Zhenguan, all the Heart Sutras recited by the world were the versions translated by Master Kumarajiva. In the ninth year of Zhenguan, Master Xuanzang was practicing Buddhism in Nalanda Temple in ancient India. Of course, some people believe that Master Xuanzang had translated the Heart Sutra and handed it down to the world before leaving Chang'an, but this statement lacks evidence.

Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra Part Four