Not Writing in Method of Talent-Character Evaluation: Artistic Innovation in HAN Yu's Inscriptions

HAN Yu's inscriptions are not written in the method of talent-character evaluation, which is characteristic of CAI Yong's inscriptions and popular in the Medieval inscription-writing. CAI Yong's inscriptions present a summation of the monumental figures, which includes introduction of virtue\political achievments\scholarship\talent\character, etc. The "Jiancai(Compound Talents" "Tongren(Versatile Person)" is highly respected in the talent-character evaluation. The language art of CAI's Inscriptions is creative. Evaluation words and phrases\analogy and parallelism are used to make a comprehensive writing of the monumental figures. HAN Yu's Inscriptions don't pursue a comprehensive writing of the figures. He paid more attention to loyalty\benevolence and unique character. The language style of HAN's Inscription is quite different from CAI Yong's evaluation style. CAI Yong's inscriptions had a significant influence on the creation of inscriptions in the Tang Dynasty and most of the writers before or during Tang Dynasty were greatly influenced by CAI Yong. HAN Yu's artistic innovation in inscriptions writing is unique in Tang and sets a new paradigm for inscription-writing which has enduring popularity.