The eight are Han Yu (
韩愈) and Liu Zongyuan (
柳宗元) from the Tang, and Ouyang Xiu (
欧阳修), the three Sus - Su Xun, Su Shi (Dongpo), Su Zhe (
三苏) - Wang Anshi (
王安石) and Zeng Gong (
曾巩) from the Song. Grouped by Ming critic Mao Kun (
茅坤) for championing
古文 (gǔwén, ancient-style prose) over the ornate parallel prose of their day.