Zhang Zhi

Zhang Zhi (, died 192), courtesy name Boying , was a Chinese calligrapher during the Han dynasty. Born in Jiuquan, Gansu, he was a pioneer of the modern cursive script, and was traditionally honored as the Sage of Cursive Script . Furthermore, he is known as one of the Four Talented Calligraphers in Chinese calligraphy.

Biography Zhang Zhi was the eldest son of Zhang Huan (; 104-181 ), a military general; Zhang Zhi's younger brother Zhang Chang was also a well-known calligrapher.

Despite the great fame he enjoyed in ancient times, no veritable works of Zhang Zhi's have survived. A catchphrase is attributed to him: "Too busy to write cursively" , which shows that the execution of cursive script, though originally invented for the sake of time-saving, requires a tranquil frame of mind.