Who is Yan Zhenqing in ancient my country?

Tang Dynasty calligrapher - Yan Zhenqing

Yan Zhenqing lived in the third year of Jinglong (709 AD) of Tang Zhongzong - the first year of Zhenyuan (785 AD) of Tang Dezong, aged 77, Langye A native of Linyi (Shandong Linyi). The courtesy name is Qingchen. He is a representative figure of calligraphy innovation in the mid-Tang Dynasty. His regular script is dignified and majestic, and his momentum is grand. The running script is soothing and refreshing, and the charm is flying. His calligraphy not only has the charm and rules of previous calligraphy styles, but is not bound by ancient methods. It breaks through the rigid rules of the early Tang Dynasty and becomes its own style, which is called "trembling style". Ouyang Xiu of the Song Dynasty commented: "The loyalty of this man comes from his nature, so his calligraphy and painting are strong and independent, without following the previous traces, and are majestic and majestic, just like the person he was. Zhu Changwen of the Song Dynasty listed his calligraphy as a divine product in "Sushu Duan"." The comment said: "The point is like a falling stone, the painting is like a summer cloud, the hook is like bending gold, and the weapon is like a crossbow. There are images vertically and horizontally, and a low and high attitude. Since Xi and Xian, there has never been anyone like Gong."

Lu Gong is a great figure in the history of calligraphy who holds the position of connecting the past and the future. His official writings have always been famous for their profoundness and strength. "The sharp sword destroys them, and they startle the momentum." This is represented by the Yanshijia Temple Monument; as for the Moya masters , majestic and majestic, the most famous one is the Song of Zhongxing in the Tang Dynasty; the one that reaches the highest level and expresses the charm of harmony and distance is the Li Xuanjing Monument. The grass path is strong and straight, full of ancient charm, and the first one is the memorial to my nephew.

Occupying a special position in the history of Chinese calligraphy, the only one who can compete with the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi and shine successively is Yan Zhenqing. His calligraphy is mostly regular script and also includes cursive script. The stele written in regular script is upright, beautiful and powerful. He was born when regular script was popular and, opposite to Wang Xizhi's example, he ushered in a new trend in calligraphy.

Yan Zhenqing was born as a Jinshi. He first became famous when he was serving as the prefect of Pingyuan. When An Lushan raised troops in Fan Yang, all the counties in Hebei surrendered. Only Yan Zhenqing stayed in Pingyuan City, serving as the leader of the rebel army and doing his best for the Tang Dynasty. Finally, on Dezong's order, he went to the rebel general Li Xilie to persuade him to surrender, but unfortunately he was killed. And his life-long loyal and heroic deeds further enhanced his status in the calligraphy world. Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy is just like his character, with positive fronts from beginning to end. Therefore, the so-called stereotyped brushwork of Yanfa has less artistic value, but this brushwork can give full play to the composure and perseverance of men.

After the mid-Tang Dynasty, due to the separatist rule of vassal towns and frequent wars, the old system was on the verge of collapse. Yan Zhenqing's rise to establish a new model of regular script is a reflection of the principles of the Heart Sutra in rebuilding a new order. However, there was a distance between the strict regular script and the social background of the time. Therefore, after the end of the Tang Dynasty, the development of calligraphy art was concentrated in cursive script, and the classical model finally gave way to the individualistic lyrical style.

Yan Zhenqing’s calligraphy is known as Yan style and has his unique style and brushwork. He left many inscriptions, and later calligraphers believe that traces of the "round brush" can be found in some of his inscriptions, which are different from the "square brush" of other calligraphers.

Yan Zhenqing is regarded as the pioneer of calligraphy using round pens. Both he and Wang Xizhi, who used the square brush, had a profound and far-reaching influence on later generations.

Yan Zhenqing’s existing calligraphy works include: Duobao Pagoda Stele, Yan’s Family Temple Stele, Yan Qin’s Ceremony Stele, Magu Immortal Altar Story, Uncle Sacrifice Manuscripts, etc. He and Liu Gongquan, another calligrapher famous for his regular script in Tang poetry, were collectively called "Yan Liu".

He wrote many calligraphy works, and it is said that more than 130 kinds have been handed down. The regular scripts that are valued by future generations include the regular script "Duobao Pagoda", "Oriental Painting Praise Stele", "Magu Immortal Altar", "Guojia Temple Stele", "Yan Qin Li Stele", etc. These regular scripts on the stele have individuality and characteristics. It has an informal front, solemn but not dangerous momentum, but the strokes are thin horizontally and thick vertically and the feet are too fast. When learning, you should pursue its charm and not simply pursue the similarity. His running script "Manuscript of Memorial to Nephew Jiming" is a masterpiece created with grief and indignation, and is known as the second running script in the world. There are also running scripts such as "Tie for the Seat" and "General Pei's Tie".

"Duobao Pagoda Stele", the full name is "Inscription on Duobao Pagoda in Qianfu Temple, Xijing, Tang Dynasty": regular script, written by Cen Xun, inscribed by Xu Hao. The font is well-proportioned and plump. It was established in April of the eleventh year of Tianbao, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (725 AD). The stele is stored in the Stele Forest in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.