Yu YuJen

Yu Youren (1879–1964), originally named Boxun, courtesy name Youren, and later known as Taiping Laoren, was a native of Sanyuan, Shaanxi Province. He was a renowned calligrapher and politician in modern China. He received his early education in a private school, where he was exposed to the study of calligraphy based on model books. Later, he went to Shanghai to study stele calligraphy, gradually developing a style characterized by its broad and robust strokes. His stele calligraphy works did not deliberately pursue strength or unconventionality, but rather flowed naturally, injecting a new vitality into the rigid stele calligraphy of the late Qing and early Republican periods.

Yu Youren was particularly skilled in cursive script and pioneered the "Standard Cursive Script," earning him the title of "Contemporary Sage of Cursive Script." In 1931, he established the Cursive Script Society, dedicated to organizing cursive script from various dynasties and promoting Standard Cursive Script to save writing effort, enhance practicality, and embody the Confucian ideal of practical application. He proposed a writing philosophy of "never violating nature for the sake of beauty," striving for harmony with nature in every stroke, line structure, and overall composition, aiming to achieve the highest realm of calligraphy.

Throughout his life, Yu Youren maintained a wide circle of friends and was a prolific writer. He left behind a large body of work, including inscriptions in stele style and cursive script. His calligraphy, plaques, and banners appeared in official circles, among ordinary people, and on restaurant signs. He was happy to write inscriptions for various sectors, but he never yielded to those in power. His calligraphy not only showcased artistic beauty but also reflected his personal character.