Yu Shinan (558-638) was a calligrapher and writer in the early Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name is Bo Shi, and he has lived in Minghechang, Beixi Township, Cixi. The Yu family is a well-established family in Cixi, and their ancestor, father, uncle, and brother all have the same name. Uncle Yu Ji was the official secretary of the Chen Dynasty. Since he had no children, he succeeded him to the south, so he was named "Bo Shi".
Yu Shinan was weak in body but strong in learning and memory. When he was young, he and his brother Yu Shiji became their disciples together with the knowledgeable King Gu Ye. I have been studying hard for more than ten years, and I have learned important points without taking a break. He especially likes calligraphy and is friendly with Monk Sun Zhiyong, the seventh generation of Wang Xizhi. Under Zhiyong's careful teaching of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, Yu Shinan achieved a wonderful style, smooth and graceful on the outside, soft on the outside and strong on the inside, inheriting the calligraphy tradition of the two kings (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi). Together with Ouyang Xun, Chu Suiliang and Xue Ji at that time, he was collectively known as the four great calligraphers in the early Tang Dynasty, and Yu Shinan was the best among the four. His "Confucius Temple Stele" was highly praised by Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty loved Yu Shinan's calligraphy very much and often wrote it on his own. It is said that one day, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty wrote the character "Jian", but the character "ge" had not yet been written. Yu Shinan happened to come to see him, so he took up his pen and wrote the character "ge". Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty showed Wei Zheng the character "戈" written by the two of them and said, "I learned from Shinan. Is it similar?" After reading it, Wei Zheng said, "The character "ge" is quite realistic." After Yu Shinan's death, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty sighed: "After Shinan's death, no one can comment on the book."
Yu Shinan experienced three eras in his life: Chen, Sui and Early Tang in the Southern Dynasties. Emperor Chen Wen knew that Shinan was knowledgeable and summoned him to join the army as a legal officer. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, he moved to Chang'an with his brother Shiji and became the secretary of the Sui Dynasty, and later moved to live in the house. At that time, Shiji was serving as the Minister of History. He had great power in the dynasty and was extremely prosperous. His wife's clothes and clothes were better than those of the princes. Although Yu Shinan lived with Shiji, he was still diligent and thrifty. After the fall of the Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin heard of Yu Shinan's name and was invited to join the army of the Qin government. He was also awarded a bachelor's degree in Hongwenguan. He was the same master of Wenhan as Fang Xuanling, and later served as a writer. Once, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty wanted to write "Biography of Women" on a screen, but he did not have a copy. Yu Shinan wrote it silently in the court hall in one breath, and it was every word correct, which won the admiration of the scribes in the court.
Although Yu Shinan looks timid and weak, he has a strong temperament and is outspoken about the gains and losses in power. He repeatedly advised Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to be diligent in political affairs, and argued the pros and cons based on the gains and losses of ancient emperors. In the eighth year of Zhenguan (AD 634), a mountain collapsed in Longyou, and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty asked about "changes in the sky". Shinan took the previous landslides since the Jin Dynasty as examples and said: "I heard that the weather is not as good as the right place, and the good place is not as good as the people. If you do not practice morality and justice, even if you get a phoenix, it will be of no use; but if there is no problem in political affairs, there will be no harm even if there are disaster stars. At that time. However, I hope that I will not be conceited because of my high achievements, as the ancients were, and I will not be arrogant and lazy because of the gradual peace. I will be cautious until the end." After hearing this, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty calmed down and reflected. He repeatedly discouraged Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty from building a mausoleum and giving him a rich burial, which made Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty restrain himself. He also sternly advised Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty not to indulge in hunting and neglect political affairs. These all played a positive role in the "Government of Zhenguan" at that time. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once said to his ministers: "If you were as upright and loyal as Yu Shinan, why would the world ignore you?"
When Yu Shinan was over seventy years old, he repeatedly petitioned to retreat, but was not allowed to do so. He was named the son of Yongxing County and was known as "Yu Yongxing". He died in Chang'an in the twelfth year of Zhenguan (AD 638) at the age of eighty. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was very sad and cried bitterly. He said: "Yu Shinan was loyal to me. He picked up things and repaired them, and never forgot them. He was indeed a famous minister of our time and had good human ethics. If I make a small mistake, I will always offend Yan Zhijian. Now that he has died, the court There are no more people left!" He was given the secret weapon of Dongyuan, buried with him in Zhaoling, given as a gift to the Minister of Capital, and given the posthumous title Wenyi. Taizong also ordered the painting to be hung in Lingyan Pavilion in the palace.
Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once said that Yu Shinan had five unique qualities: "The first is virtue, the second is loyalty, the third is erudition, the fourth is literary poetry, and the fifth is calligraphy." Yu Shinan's masterpiece of calligraphy is the official script inscription "Confucius Temple Stele", and he also compiled the first volume in my country This complete book "Beitang Shuchao" has a total of 160 volumes and excerpts from various ancient books that can be seen in the early Tang Dynasty. Most of these ancient books have been lost now, but "Beitang Shuchao" has made important contributions to the preservation of ancient Chinese cultural classics. After his death, his former residence in Minghe Town, Cixi was rebuilt into Dingshui Temple. There is a portrait of Yu Shinan in the temple. His descendants moved to Chang'an.
Preface to the essay on breaking evil in small regular script
Epitaph of Princess Runan
Preface to Yu Lanting
