Background
Ouyang Xun was well-known for his excellent calligraphic skills as early as the Sui Dynasty. By the Tang Dynsty? his fame had extended far beyound China.
As a southerner, Ouyang Xun's calligraphy was obviously influenced by the southern style. Although his style was firm and upright, it was softer than that of the nothern stele.
The greatest contribution of Ouyang Xun lies in his organisation of the structure of the regular style. He analysed the hierarchical relationship between points and strokes, alternating and moving sequences, orderly composition and the categorisation of the forms of Chinese characters. He made calligraphy a serious and solemn affair.
Ouyang Xun died in his 80s during the reign of Zhenguan.