Li Yong’s Stone Chamber

Li Yong’s Stone Chamber

Located at Zhongtai Mountain, 30 kilometers southeast of Xianning City, Hubei Province. It is said that Li Yong once studied here, hence the name.

The stone chamber lies halfway up the mountain, naturally formed, capable of accommodating several people. It stays warm in winter and cool in summer, making it very pleasant. Above it are historic relics such as a stone platform and a stone bell. Nearby are the scenic spots of Peach Blossom Spring and the ancient tree-lined Panxi Stream, which have long been favored by tourists.

Li Yong (678–747), courtesy name Taihe, was from Jiangxia (present-day Wuchang, Hubei), though some say he was from Jiangdu, Yangzhou (now part of Jiangsu). He was the son of Li Shan. A renowned literary figure and calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, he initially served as an imperial censor and assisted the brothers Lai Jing and Zhang Changzong. He rose to the positions of Prefect of Ji Commandery and then Prefect of Beihai, earning the posthumous title “Li of Beihai.” In calligraphy, he first studied Wang Xizhi’s style before developing his own, characterized by bold strokes, serene rhythm, and dynamic compositions, earning him the nickname “the Sage of Calligraphy.” Later, he was framed and persecuted by Li Linfu.

Li Yong’s calligraphy was rooted in the styles of the “Two Wangs” (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi), yet he managed to both absorb and transcend their influence. The last ruler of the Southern Tang, Li Yu, remarked: “Li Yong captured the spirit of the General of the Right (Wang Xizhi), but lacked his structural discipline.” This precisely highlights where Li Yong excelled in learning. The “Xuanhe Calligraphy Catalogue” states: “Yong was a master of brush and ink, famed especially for his running and cursive scripts. Initially studying the methods of the General of the Right, he grasped their essence, then broke free from conventional practices, renewing the vigor of his brushwork.” Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, inscriptions on stone tablets were typically written in regular script. However, during the Tang Dynasty, Li Yong pioneered the use of running script for steles. His calligraphic style is highly distinctive—characters are higher on the left and lower on the right, with expansive and powerful strokes that exude a sense of daring and clarity. He advocated innovation while inheriting and promoting ancient calligraphic art. He once said, “Those who imitate me become vulgar; those who merely learn from me perish.” Both Su Dongpo and Mi Fu incorporated elements of his style, and Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan Dynasty also strived to emulate his brush intent, achieving from it a refined and graceful calligraphic realm. He exerted a profound influence on later generations. In July 2008, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education adopted Li Yong’s calligraphic font in the handwriting textbooks for upper elementary and middle school students, as part of the compulsory education textbook “Handwriting” in Zhejiang. It is believed that in the near future, Li-style script will spread beautifully across the nation just as Wang-style script has.