Huai Su

Who was Huai Su?

Huai Su, courtesy name Zangzhen, was a Buddhist monk and calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, famous for his cursive calligraphy. Fewer than 10 pieces of his works have survived.

He was born in modern Changsha, Hunan. Not much is known of his early life. His secular surname may have been Qian. It is possible that Huai Su was a nephew of the poet Qian Qi. Huai became a monk in his childhood, apparently out of poverty.

Legend has it that he planted banana trees in the courtyard of the temple he lived, and used the leaves as paper to practice his art. He made his national fame in his early thirties when he came to Chang'an, which was then capital of China. Famous poets of his time spoke highly of his works, including Li Bai. Like Li Bai, he was fond of alcohol.

Traditionally Huai Su is paired with the older Zhang Xu as the two greatest cursive calligraphers of the Tang Dynasty. The duo is affectionately referred to as "the crazy Zhang and the drunk Su".