Zhong Yao

Zhong Yao or Zhong You (151–230)courtesy name Yuanchang, was a calligrapher and politician who lived in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. Born in modern Xuchang, Henan, he was at one time the Grand Administrator of Chang'an.

Following Cao Pi's death and Cao Rui taking the throne, Zhong Yao was appointed as a Grand Tutor of Wei in 226. As a student of Cai Yong, a famous calligrapher, he also contributed to the development of standard script (kaishu), and is known as the "father of standard script". His famous works include the Xuanshi Biao (Chinese: 宣示表; pinyin: Xuānshì Biǎo), Jianjizhi Biao (simplified Chinese: 荐季直表; traditional Chinese: 薦季直表; pinyin: Jiànjìzhí Biǎo), and Liming Biao (Chinese: 力命表; pinyin: Lìmìng Biǎo), which survive through handwritten copies, including by Wang Xizhi. Qiu Xigui (2000, p. 143) describes the script in Zhong's Xuanshi Biao as:

Family

Zhong Yao's grandfather, Zhong Hao (鍾皓), was a prominent scholar in the Eastern Han dynasty. Zhong Yao's father, Zhong Di (鍾迪), refused to enter politics because of the Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions. Zhong Yao had two known siblings: a brother, Zhong Yan (鍾演), who received a marquis title; a sister, who was the mother of Guo Yuan.