A master of tablet inscription writing in the late East Han Dynasty, Cao Yong Contributed a large quantity of tablet inscriptions li his life, which gained both high praises and bitter criticisms from later generations. Cai Yong committed the worst mistake in his lifetime when he accepted the appointment of being a minister in Dong Zhuo’s clique. However, it is not so fair to neglect his achievements in tablet inscription writing owing to some doubt about his personality and writing style. Justly speaking, most of Cai’s tablet inscriptions were wellorganized, properlyappreciating and wellexpressive. Based on a recall of life story, Cai managed to combine historical spirit with aesthetic pursuit by adding his personal moral judgment and ideological orientation to inscriptions, hence his great achievements to be the initial model for tablet inscription writing.

Cai Yong; tablet inscription writing; literature in the East Han Dynasty