Ouyang Xiu

Leader of the Northern Song Classical Prose Movement, he oversaw the examination that passed the Su Shi brothers and compiled the New Book of Tang and the New History of the Five Dynasties.

Life

Taught to write with reeds

Ouyang Xiu lost his father at four, and his mother taught him to write with reeds in the sand, a story known as "taught to write with reeds." He supported Fan Zhongyan's Qingli Reforms and was demoted to prefect of Chuzhou for it, where he wrote the "Record of the Old Toper's Pavilion."

Old Toper's Pavilion

In 1057 he presided over the civil service examination, rejecting florid writing and passing Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zeng Gong and others, which transformed Song prose style. He was the leader of the Northern Song Classical Prose Movement, and all six Song members of the Eight Great Prose Masters of Tang and Song were connected with him.

Leader of the literary world

He helped compile the New Book of Tang and wrote the New History of the Five Dynasties on his own, and he founded the study of bronze and stone inscriptions. In his later years he called himself the Retired Scholar of Six Ones. He died in 1072.

Legacy

Ouyang Xiu was the leader of the Northern Song literary world; he discovered and promoted Su Shi and a great many other talents, opening a new chapter in Song literature.

Major works & achievements

• "Record of the Old Toper's Pavilion"
• New History of the Five Dynasties
• Presided over the 1057 examination

Did you know? On reading Su Shi's examination paper, he said: "This old man ought to step aside and let him rise a head above the rest."

Key dates

• 1030Passed the jinshi exam
• 1045Demoted to Chuzhou; wrote the "Record of the Old Toper's Pavilion"
• 1057Presided over the examination that passed the Su Shi brothers
• 1060New Book of Tang completed
• 1072Died