Ouyang Xiu

Ouyang Xiu
歐陽脩
A contemporary drawing of Ouyang Xiu
Born	August 1, 1007 Mian Prefecture, Song
Died	September 22, 1072(1072-09-22) (aged 65) Ying Prefecture, Song
Occupation(s)	Calligrapher, classicist, epigrapher, essayist, poet, politician
Spouses	Lady Xu (胥氏) Lady Yang (楊氏) Lady Xue (薛氏)
Children	Ouyang Fa (歐陽發) (son) Ouyang Yi (歐陽奕) (son) Ouyang Fei (歐陽棐) (son) Ouyang Bian (歐陽辯) (son) Ouyang Shi (歐陽師) (daughter)
Parents	Ouyang Guan (歐陽觀) (father) Lady Zheng (鄭氏) (mother)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	歐陽脩
Simplified Chinese	欧阳修
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Ōuyáng Xiū Gwoyeu Romatzyh Ouyang Shiou Wade–Giles Ou1-yang2 Hsiu1 IPA [óʊ.jǎŋ ɕjóʊ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Āu-yèuhng Sāu Jyutping Au1-joeng4 Sau1 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Au-iông Siu Middle Chinese Middle Chinese 'Uw-yang Sjuw
Ouyang Yongshu (courtesy name)
Traditional Chinese	歐陽永叔
Simplified Chinese	欧阳永叔
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Ōuyáng Yǒngshū
Zuiweng (art name)
Chinese	醉翁
Literal meaning	"Drunken Old Man"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zuìwēng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jeui-yūng Jyutping Zeoi3-jung1 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Tsuì-ong
Liu Yi Jushi (art name)
Chinese	六一居士
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Liù Yī jūshì Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Luhk Yāt gēui-sih Southern Min Hokkien POJ Lio̍k-it ku-sū
Wenzhong (posthumous name)
Chinese	文忠[note 1]
Literal meaning	Cultured and Loyal
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wénzhōng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Màhn-jūng Southern Min Hokkien POJ Bûn-tiong

Ouyang Xiu (Chinese: 歐陽脩; pinyin: Ōuyáng Xiū; Wade–Giles: Ou-Yang Hsiu; 1007 – 1072 CE),^[1] courtesy name Yongshu, also known by his art names Zuiweng (醉翁) and Liu Yi Jushi (六一居士), was a Chinese historian, calligrapher, epigrapher, essayist, poet, and politician of the Song dynasty. He was a renowned writer among his contemporaries and is considered the central figure of the Eight Masters of the Tang and Song. He revived the Classical Prose Movement (first begun by the two Tang dynasty masters two centuries before him) and promoted it in imperial examinations, paving the way for future masters like Su Shi and Su Zhe.

Ouyang Xiu's interests as a writer were remarkably diverse. As a historian, he was put in charge by Emperor Renzong of Song of creating the New Book of Tang, which was completed in 1060 CE. He also wrote in his spare time the Historical Records of the Five Dynasties, the only book in the Twenty-Four Histories to have been written in private by a single author. As a poet, he was a noted writer of both the cí and shi genres. But it was his prose writings like Zuiwengting Ji that won him the greatest acclaim. Treatises from Ouyang's voluminous œuvre range from studies of flowers to literary criticism and political commentaries.

Politically, Ouyang Xiu was one of the major proponents of the Qingli Reforms of the 1040s. When lead reformer Fan Zhongyan fell from power in 1045 CE, Ouyang was also demoted to posts away from the capital. He returned to the central government only in 1054, and gradually moved up the bureaucratic ladder again, until in 1060 he was made the assistant councilor of the state. He retired from politics in 1071, after vehemently (and unsuccessfully) opposing the New Policies of Wang Anshi, whose career he very much helped.

Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).