Xiao Sihua 蕭思話

Xiao Sihua 蕭思話（406-455, from Nan-Lanling 南蘭陵 (today's Wujin 武進, Jiangsu) was a high official and calligrapher of the Liu Song period 劉宋 (420-479).

In his youth, he was not known for scholarship, but later he changed his ways and gained a good reputation. He was quite skilled in the chancery script (lishu 隸書), proficient at playing the zither, and adept at horseback riding and archery.

With 18 sui, he was made acting administrator of the Commander-in-Chief (da sima xing canjun 大司馬行參軍) under the Prince of Langye 瑯邪, then aide of the Administrator of the Prince's Household (xiangguo canjun 相國參軍), and was invested as Marquis of the District of Yangxian 陽縣侯. Xiao was given the title of General Propagating Authority (xuanwu jiangjun 宣威將軍) and appointed governor (taishou 太守) of the commanderies of Pengsheng 彭城 and Pei 沛. In 428, he was made Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat (zhongshu shilang 中書侍郎), General Spreacing Martiality (zhenwu jiangjun 振武將軍) and regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Qingzhou 青州. In 432, the region of Hanzhong 漢中 was invaded by the Di 氐 leader Yang Nandang 楊難當 (r. 436-442), ruler of Later Qiuchi 後仇池 (385-443/473). Xiao was appointed Area Commander-in-Chief (dudu 都督) and regional inspector of Liangzhou 梁州 and Nan-Qinzhou 南秦州 and given the title of General of Wide Range (hengye jiangjun 橫野將軍). Yang's troops looted and burnt villages in Hanzhong, and finally retreated to the west.

In 437，Xiao was given special warrant (shichijie 使持節) and was made Administrator of the Household (zhangshi 長史) of Liu Yiqing 劉義慶 (403-444), the Prince of Linchuan 臨川, concurrently with the title of Commander of the Southern Tribes (nanman xiaowei 南蠻校尉). In 443, Xiao was appointed Commander Pacifying the Man Barbarians (ningman xiaowei 寧蠻校尉), regional inspector of Yongzhou 雍州 and governor of Xiangyang 襄陽. 445, he became a palace attendant (shizhong 侍中) and was appointed Right Commander of the Heir Apparent's Guard (taizi youshuai 太子右率). 449, he declined the post of Minister of Personnel (libu shangshu 吏部尚書), and was instead made Protector-General (hujun jiangjun 護軍將軍).

When Liu Shao 劉劭 (424-453) murdered his father, Emperor Wen 宋文帝 (r. 424-453), Xiao was made regional inspector of the provinces of Xuzhou 徐州 and Yanzhou 兗州 with special warrant to join the forces of Liu Jun 劉駿, the eventual Emperor Xiaowu 宋孝武皇帝 (r. 453-464), fighting against the patricide. When Liu Jun mounted the throne, Xiao was offered the positions of Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary (sanji changshi 散騎常侍), Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu zuo puye 尚書左僕射), but he declined and was made Director of the Palace Secretariat (zhongshu ling 中書令) and metropolitan magistrate (yin 尹) of Danyang 丹陽.

He was posthumously given the honorific titles of General Attacking the West (zhengxi jiangjun 征西將軍) and Commander Unequalled in Honour (kaifu yitong sansi 開府儀同三司). His posthumous title was Duke Mu 穆侯公.

In his calligraphic works, Xiao Sihua studied the style of Yang Xin 羊欣 (359-44) and mastered the methods of Zhong Yao 鐘繇 (151-230), while also capturing the elegance and essence of Yang Xin's semi-cursive and cursive scripts. Wang Sengqian 王僧虔 (425–485) praised him in his treatise on calligraphy, Lunshu 論書, as did Yuan Ang 袁昂 (461-540) in his Gujin shuping 古今書評, and Dou Ji 竇臮 (fl. 769) wrote in his Shushufu 述書賦. Surviving works attributed to him include the memorial note Zoushi tie 奏事貼 and the cursive-script note Yiyue erri tie 一月二日貼.