Jiucheng Palace Liqueur Spring Inscription [Chinese calligraphy]

Ouyang Xun (557–641 CE) was one of the most influential calligraphers of the early Tang Dynasty, renowned for his precise, disciplined, and structurally rigorous style of regular script (kaishu). His masterpiece, the Jiucheng Palace Liqueur Spring Inscription (Jiucheng Gong Li Quan Ming), was engraved in 632 CE to commemorate the discovery of a sweet spring at the Jiucheng Palace – an event interpreted as a sign of heavenly favor toward Emperor Taizong’s virtuous rule.

The inscription, composed by Chancellor Wei Zheng and written by Ouyang Xun, exemplifies the clarity, balance, and elegance of Tang dynasty regular script. It has served as a fundamental model for calligraphy learners for over 1,300 years and remains one of the most studied stele inscriptions in Chinese calligraphy history.