Zhang Zhi (calligrapher)
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Zhang Zhi (simplified Chinese: 张芝; traditional Chinese: 張芝; pinyin: Zhāng Zhī; Wade–Giles: Chang Chih, died 192), courtesy name Boying (伯英), was a Chinese calligrapher during the Han dynasty. Born in Jiuquan, Gansu,[a] he was a pioneer of the modern cursive script, and was traditionally honored as the Sage of Cursive Script (草聖).[1] Furthermore, he is known as one of the Four Talented Calligraphers (四賢) in Chinese calligraphy.[2]
Zhang Zhi was the eldest son of Zhang Huan (张奂; 104-181[3]), a military general; Zhang Zhi's younger brother Zhang Chang (张昶) was also a well-known calligrapher.[4]
Despite the great fame he enjoyed in ancient times, no veritable works of Zhang Zhi's have survived. A catchphrase is attributed to him: "Too busy to write cursively" (匆匆不暇草書),[b] which shows that the execution of cursive script, though originally invented for the sake of time-saving, requires a tranquil frame of mind.[5]
