The Dreadful Demonstration

Su Tzu Drilling the Concubines of King Ho-Lu

This is just a picture to remind us all of the story of how Sun Tzu demonstrated one method for assembling, organizing, and leading an army to a skeptical King Hu Lu of Wu.  Though Sun Tzu's tactic of beheading the non-compliant lead concubine "officers" is obviously quite drastic, this story does teach us a lot about the "freeze and gather" human response in threatening and fearful situations and how a leader can take advantage of this.  Though this tactic definitely isn't to be embraced and practiced by effective and benevolent leaders, it is good to always keep in mind to remember.      

The Chinese Masters of Calligraphy

Caoshu of the Master, Li Po



 


Wang Xizhi's Orchid Pavillion Preface (Xingshu).
(The master who turned a pond black washing his brushes after practicing
his calligraphy for twenty years.)





Wang Xianzhi (Caoshu)
(Wang Xizhi's son, who had to use up eighteen huge vats of ink from the age of twelve before he
could achieve mastery)






Ouyang Xun  (Kaishu)
(Spent three days in front of his stone tablet before beginning to write)