Mencius once said: "Therefore, the heavens will descend on the people, and they must first suffer their minds, strain their muscles and bones, starve their bodies and skins, empty their bodies, and act chaotically. Although this statement is full of superstition, it seems to imply that only those who work hard can be favored by God, but we should note that Mencius's assiduous effort is only a necessary condition for success, and there are still many factors worth pondering.
On the life path of Ouyang Xun, a calligrapher, we may be able to get some inspiration.
Ouyang Xun's family background is prominent, and he has been an important minister of the court since his ancestors, and he has been prominent for generations. Great-grandfather Ouyang Jingda, who successively served as the governor of Changsha in the Liang Dynasty, is equivalent to the current vice governor; Gaozu Ouyang Shengbao was the captain of Chen Chaotun's cavalry and was a high-ranking military general; his grandfather Ouyang Wei was also a high-ranking official of the Chen Dynasty and served as a assassin in the history; his father Ouyang Su was also a historian of the Guangzhou Assassin, commanding the military affairs of 19 states and making great achievements. This excellent genetic inheritance laid the foundation for him, and although it may be a little superstitious, there are many examples.
However, good family genes alone are not enough. At the age of thirteen, Ouyang Xun's family was ruined and survived alone, which was no accident, and it may have been favored by God. His father Ouyang Su's rebellion against the imperial court failed, and he was forced to suffer from adversity, and his living environment took a sharp turn for the worse, which proved Mencius's words: "Therefore, the heavens will descend on the people, and they must first suffer their minds......
Mr. Jiang's support and support is an important part of Ouyang Xun's life. Mr. Jiang was a famous literary scholar in the Southern Dynasty, and he had a deep relationship with Ouyang Xun's father, so he took in and raised Ouyang Xun. This move not only enabled Ouyang Xun to avoid the loneliness of the world, but also obtained the edification of literature and poetry, which can be described as a win-win situation. Mr. Jiang not only helped him in literature and calligraphy, but also provided valuable support in his career, which shows the importance of connections.
However, Ouyang Xun was ugly, which became one of the obstacles in his life. During the reign of Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, the eldest grandson Wuji made a poem to ridicule his appearance, and Ouyang Xun also responded with a poem, which revealed the ugliness of his appearance. However, his calligraphy status has not been affected, his works such as "Jiucheng Palace Tablet" and other hand-me-downs, loved by princes and nobles, and his calligraphy inheritance has a wide influence, not only in China, but also throughout Japan, Korea and other East Asian countries, it can be seen that physiognomy is important, but the skill of calligraphy is above all else.
To sum up, Ouyang Xun's life experience reflects many growth factors: family background, adversity, and connections are all indispensable. The same is true for learning calligraphy, where the environment is just as important as the network. Only by having a comprehensive understanding and working hard can we achieve greater achievements. May this article provide some inspiration for calligraphy lovers.