墓誌銘經常被看作為傳記的同類，評論家認為墓誌銘作家不但不能「諛墓」，更應該據事實，筆削褒貶評價墓主。事實上，墓誌銘與傳記兩者性質不同，前者既有著「稱美不稱惡」的文體特質，更由於在文本生產的過程中，墓主親友與受委託對象的特殊關係，對墓主有較多溢美之詞，其實在所難免。本文以韓愈、歐陽修和唐宋兩代的墓誌銘為中心，按墓誌銘與傳記的異同、韓愈和歐陽修墓誌銘的評價，與自撰墓誌銘的寫作特點，探討墓誌銘的特質，欲指出這是為在生者而創造、虛構和加工的一種文體。

Muzhiming is always viewed as the same genre as biography. Critics consider muzhiming writers should not only flatter the owner of tomb, but also comment based on truths and facts. Practically speaking, muzhiming and biography cannot be classified into similar genres. The former has the characteristics of “only to praise but not criticize”; and even more, as a given task, the trustee would give compliment inevitably during the production of the muzhiming. This article studies Han Yu’s and Ouyang Xiu’s muzhiming and related works completed in Tang and Song dynasties, focusing on the differentiation of muzhiming and biography, the discussion on Han Yu’s and Ouyang Xiu’s muzhiming, and the writing style of self-written muzhiming, in order to investigate the features of muzhiming as a genre of fiction, creation, and processing for the living.