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Following the prose of a hundred schools of thought and Records of the Grand Historian, Chinese ancient prose reached another peak of development in the Tang and Song dynasties. Particularly, under the influence and push of the Classical Prose Movement in the Tang and Song dynasties, numerous writers showed their talents and brought about a new scene of prose in Tang and Song dynasties. Among them, Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan who lived in the Tang Dynasty and Ouyang Xiu, Su Xun, Su Shi, Su Zhe, Wang Anshi and Zeng Gong who lived in the Song Dynasty were quite influential for their unique styles and were historically called "Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties". The Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties were all important representatives of the Classical Prose Movement. They opposed parallel verse, advocated prose, emphasized the novel and natural writing style, and supported the plain and fluent literary style. Their theoretical concepts and creative practices exerted important and far-reaching influence on the development of literature, especially the change of prose, after the Tang and Song dynasties.
Han Yu (768-824), with the courtesy name of Tuizhi, the posthumous title of "Wen" and the alias of Han Wengong, was known as Han Changli because he was a native of Changli, Hebei. He studied hard in his childhood and served as Assistant Minister of the Department of War, Assistant Minister of the Department of Official Personnel and Governor of the Capital, but he never achieved his ambition in his lifetime despite his outstanding literary talent and political views. He wrote Han Changli s Collected Works consisting of 40 volumes, etc.
Han Yu's articles advocated Confucius' thoughts, and played an important role in establishing the concept of "Confucian orthodoxy" in China. In terms of literary styles, Han Yu emphasized novelty, strangeness and steady change. His articles were written with concise language, integrating classical Chinese and vernacular Chinese. For example, his articles such as On the Teacher are both argumentative articles and essays, which contain matter-of-fact narrations but are full of ups and downs and easy to understand with strong momentum and affinity. Du Mu (803-c. 852), a poet of the late Tang Dynasty, called Han Yu's prose and Du Fu's poetry "Du's poetry and Han's prose" collectively, showing the high status of Han Yu's prose in the history of literature.
Liu Zongyuan (773-819), with the courtesy name of Zihou, was a native of Hedong (today's Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province) and was known as Liu Hedong. He died in Liuzhou at the age of 46, so people also called him Liu Liuzhou. Liu Zongyuan wrote more than 600 poems and essays in his lifetime. His poems are outstanding, but his literary achievements and influence are greater. His main works are in Liu Hedong s Collected Works consisting of 45 volumes.
Liu Zongyuan and Han Yu had the same literary ambition, opposed the flowery literary style prevalent since the Six Dynasties, and actively advocated plain and fluent articles with meaningful connotations. Liu Zongyuan's prose contains lofty connotations and plain words, and his travel notes and allegories are commended for their novelty. Eight Records of Excursions in Yongzhou written by him after being demoted to be an official in Yongzhou is his classic work of travel prose, and A Small Pond in it is a widely known article. He seemed to enjoy leisure among mountains and rivers, but his mind was upset and his perceptions of life were manifested by natural scenes. His language is novel, vigorous, unsophisticated and concise. In the history of Chinese literature, Eight Records of Excursions in Yongzhou marked the establishment of landscape and travel prose as an independent genre. There are also some allegories in the prose created by Liu Zongyuan such as The Rats of a Certain Family at Yongzhou, The Deer of Linjiang and The Donkey of Guizhou, which are humorous with profound morals.
Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072), with the courtesy name of Yongshu, the alias of Zuiweng and the posthumous title of Wenzhong, was a politician, writer and historian of the Northern Song Dynasty often called Ouyang Wenzhong in later ages. He wrote New History of the Tang Dynasty with Song Qi, and compiled History of Five Dynasties independently. His main works are included in Collected Works of Ouyang Wenzhong. Ouyang Xiu made a lot of political and literary accomplishments, and actively guided the poem and essay reform movement in the Northern Song Dynasty. His political thoughts influenced the times, his poems, ci poems and essays were widely known, and Su Shi and his brothers, Zeng Gong, Wang Anshi, etc. were all his students.
Ouyang Xiu's essays express emotions and explain reasons very well, giving emphasis to both momentum and euphemism. Emotions are expressed earnestly and skilfully, and reasons are explained smoothly and fluently. On Factions, History of the Five Dynasties — The Preface to Biographies of Chief Officers of Music, The Roadside Hut of the Old Drunkard, Ode to the Autumn Sound, Lamenting Shi Manqing, Old Oil Peddler, etc. are all Ouyang Xiu's famous articles.
"Three Sus" is a collective term for Su Xun the father, Su Shi the elder brother and Su Zhe the younger brother. Su Xun (1009-1066), with the courtesy name of Mingyun and the alias of Laoquan, was a native of Meishan, Meizhou (today's Sichuan). His main works are included in Jiayou Collection. Su Xun had not only political ambitions, but also military visions. In articles such as On Balance, Letter to the Emperor and On the Six States, he boldly put forward his views on running the country and innovating in politics. His prose, especially political arguments, is most vigorous, trenchant and incisive, targeting current malpractices. Su Shi (1037-1101), with the courtesy name of Zizhan and the alias of Dongpo Jushi, was Su Xun's son often called Su Dongpo in later ages, and a famous writer and calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty. His main poems and essays are included in Seven Collections of Dongpo, etc. Su Shi was versatile. His poems and ci poems are unrestrained and have a style of their own, and his prose is also easy to understand and straightforward with a unique style. He and Ouyang Xiu are collectively called "Ouyang and Su." Su Zhe (1039-1112), with the courtesy name of Ziyou, was Su Shi's younger brother. Su Zhe's studies and writings were deeply influenced by his father and elder brother, and his main works include Notes on the Book of Songs, Spring and Autumn Annals, Ancient Histon> and Notes on Laozi. Su Zhe emphasized the theory of "fostering moral character," i.e. articles should be based on extensive and profound life experiences and focus on authors' inner accomplishments. His writing style is plain but magnificent, simple but rich.
Wang Anshi (1021-1086), with the courtesy name of Jiefu, was a native of Linchuan (today's Dongxiang County, Jiangxi Province) and a politician, thinker and writer of the Northern Song Dynasty. His main works are included in Wang Linchuan Collection, Collected Works of Mr. Linchuan, Supplement of Linchuan Collection, Songs of Mr. Linchuan, etc. Wang Anshi always opposed the void and weak literary style, and his literary opinion and creation were both closely related to his political ideals, emphasizing the social function of literature, which should "benefit the world." Wang Anshi created many kinds of works, and excelled in poems and essays. Most of his articles are very logical and persuasive political essays expressing profound thoughts with incisive words, showing the politician's original views and broad mind. Letter to Emperor Renzong, Letter of Reply to Sima Guang, Reading an Account of Lord Mengchang, Lament over the Oblivion of Zhongyong, etc. are all Wang Anshi's famous works.
Zeng Gong (1019-1083), with the courtesy name of Zigu, was an active participant of the poem and essay reform movement in the Northern Song Dynasty. His work Writings of the Yuanfeng Period consisting of 50 volumes exists today. He made great achievements in prose creation, and formed a style of his own. Wang Anshi praised him in To Zeng Zigu,"Zeng Gong's articles are rare and can be compared to the Yangtze River, the Han River and the Big Dipper." Zeng Gong paid attention to "methods" instead of "genres" in writing. Essays, prefaces and letters among his articles represent his highest accomplishments. Letter to Ouyang Xiu, Letter to the Governor of Fuzhou, Preface to the Contents of Strategies of the Warring States, etc. have always been commended by people.