It was Meng Tian, a respected Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.) general, that first made a cone-shaped brush head out of rabbit hair and inserted it into a bamboo shaft, thus inventing the first calligraphy and painting brush. Two thousand years later, his manufacturing technique has yet to be bettered.

Zhang Xu, a famous calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) particularly excelled at the caoshu (cursive) style of calligraphy. Cursive script differs from other styles of calligraphy in appearing deceptively simple when it is actually very difficult to execute. It calls for artistry similar to that required for abstract painting, in the sense of mastery of classic art's being a prerequisite to the ability to create abstract works. Zhang Xu's cursive script, based on his kaishu or regular script, was unconventionally and distinctly bold. His calligraphic artistry resulted in his epithet as "sage of cursive script."

Zhang Xu and expert swordplay dancer Madame Gongsun were contemporaries. The attitudes struck by Madame Gongsun in her dance sequences of bold leaps, graceful swoops and deadly accurate lunges were, in Zhang Xu's eyes, unusually defined outlines of Chinese characters . He drew inspiration from Madame Gongsun's swordplay and incorporated everything he found thrilling about her performances into his distinctive style of calligraphy, which later contributed to China's venerable canon.

Another famous swordplay exponent was Tang Dynasty general Pei Min. Upon his inviting famous Tang Dynasty painter Wu Daozi to paint a mural on temple wall to exorcise evil spirits and honor his deceased mother, the artist replied, "I would consider it an honor, but have not painted for a while. Could you inspire me with a swordplay dance sequence?" Pei Min thereupon performed for him, and Wu Daozi referred to the work he subsequently created, inspired by Pei Min's balletic skills as, "the most satisfactory work of my life."

It was Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty (reigned 826-841) that issued an imperial edict naming Zhang Xu's calligraphy, Pei Min's swordplay and Li Bai 's poetry as the "three wonders of the Great Tang Empire."

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