Zhang Xu

  • The Tragedy at Mawei and the Fracture of the Tang [Sui & Tang]

    Brief: This article narrates the tragic Mawei Incident during the An-Shi Rebellion. After the Tang defeat at Tong Pass, Emperor Xuanzong fled Chang’an with Yang Guifei. Enraged imperial guards mutinied, killing Yang Guozhong and forcing the emperor to order Yang Guifei’s death. The imperial family split; the crown prince declared himself Emperor Suzong. Though…

  • The Autobiographical Preface by Huai Su [Chinese calligraphy]

    Huai Su (737–799 CE) was a Buddhist monk and one of the most celebrated cursive script (caoshu) calligraphers of the Tang Dynasty. Known for his wild, dynamic, and highly expressive brushwork, he is often paired with Zhang Xu as one of the “Two Sages of Cursive Script.”