Another famous swordplay exponent was Tang Dynasty general Pei Min. Upon his inviting famous Tang Dynasty painter Wu Daozi to paint a mural on the temple wall to exorcise evil spirits and honor his deceased mother, the artist replied, "I would consider it an honor, but have not painted for a while. Could you inspire me with a swordplay dance sequence?" Pei Min thereupon performed for him, and Wu Daozi referred to the work he subsequently created, inspired by Pei Min's balletic skills as,“...the most satisfactory of my life."
It was Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty (reigned 826-841) that issued an imperial edict naming Zhang Xu's calligraphy, Pei Min's swordplay and LiBai's poetry as the "three wonders of the Great Tang Empire".
