Xu Hao

CHINA, Zhejiang, Shaoxing; Tang dynasty

Xu Hao, also known as Ji Hai, was a calligrapher from Yuezhou (present day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). He was an imperial official who served for many successful years and was appointed numerous titles and positions throughout his career. Adept in clerical, running, and cursive script calligraphy, Xu was particularly proficient in the regular script with round, thick, and sturdy brushstrokes.
Buddhist calligraphy written by Xu includes copies of the Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, and Diamond Sutra. His extant stele work in regular script includes Stele of Master Dazhen, made in 769 and now kept at Chongyue Temple in Henan; Stele of Master Amoghavajra, originally erected at Daxingshan Temple in Shaanxi in 781 and now kept in the Xi’an Beilin Museum in Shaanxi; and the heading of Stele of Prabhutaratna Pagoda, also kept at the Xi’an Beilin Museum.
Xu’s clerical script steles include Stele of Praise by Emperor Xuanzong for a Daoist Practitioner, inscribed in 744, and a rubbing of Poetry of Baolin Temple, both of which are kept at the Shanghai Museum.
In addition, the calligraphic piece, Appointment Certificate for Zhu, is believed to be written by Xu Hao and is kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.