Han Zemu

CHINA, Hebei, Qinhuangdao; Tang dynasty

The uncle of the famed poet and scholar, Han Yu, Han Zemu was a calligrapher from Changli county in Qinhuangdao. He served various positions in the government and was also referred to as Attendant Han. Skilled in clerical script calligraphy, Han was a well-respected artist during his time. His calligraphic style was described in Xuanhe Catalog of Calligraphy as “distinguished and accomplished, leisurely and charming; the resurgence of Cai Yong.” Epigraphy Records, written by Zhao Mingcheng, also complimented Han’s calligraphy as distinct, strong, and lovely.
Han’s works of calligraphy include Stele of Master Zhizhou at Jianfu Temple, written in 771 and a rubbing of the stele kept at the Jingyang County Cultural Center in Shaanxi; Stele of Nanchuan County Governor, which rubbing is kept at the Xi’an Beilin Museum in Shaanxi; and Calligraphy of Prime Minster Renjie, at the Shanghai Museum. Other scripted works include the Heart Sutra, among several others.