Yan Zhenqing:
the Tang Dynasty
When Yan Zhenqing was young, his family was poor and lacked paper and pens, so he used a pen to brush loess water to practice calligraphy on the wall. Chu Suiliang, a beginner, studied under Zhang Xu and four masters in the early Tang Dynasty. He not only accepted the seal script, but also accepted the writing style of the Northern Wei Dynasty, which made him unique. Contrary to the style of writing in the early Tang Dynasty, he changed from thin and hard to full and vigorous, with a broad structure and great momentum, and was called "colorful body".
Yan Zhenqing is a descendant of Langya family with profound family background. Yan Zhitui, the sixth ancestor, was a famous scholar in the Northern Qi Dynasty. He once wrote family instructions for Yan. His calligraphy style and Liu Gongquan are also called "Yan Liu" and have the reputation of "Yan Liu Jin Gu".
Ouyang Xiu once said: "Yan Gongshu is like a loyal martyr and a moral gentleman. His aim is strictness and respect. People are scared at first sight, but the longer he is, the cuter he is. " There are many people who see treasure in the world, but they are not tired. "Zhu praised his book:" Point like a falling stone, painting like a cloud, hook like a bow, bow like a crossbow, depressed and ambitious. It has never been made public since it was dedicated. "Yan calligraphy has a far-reaching impact on the development of calligraphy art in later generations. After the Tang Dynasty, many famous artists learned from the success of Yan Zhenqing's political reform. Especially cursive script, some famous artists learned from the two kings and then from Yan Zhenqing, and established their own styles. Su Shi Ceng Yun: "As for poetry, as for writing, as for Han's retreat, as for painting, as for Wu Daozi, as for books, as for Yan, the changes of ancient and modern times can do everything in the world." ("Dongpo Ming")
He is the author of Wu Jixing, Luzhou Collection and Linchuan Collection. Yan Zhenqing wrote many monuments in his life, which have been passed down to this day: many pagodas, dignified and dense in structure, beautiful and charming; "Dong Fangshuo painted a monument to praise" with a strong Qingyuan style; "The Inscription of the Golden King" is even more dignified and vigorous; "Zang Huaike Monument" is magnificent and vigorous; "Over the cup" is graceful and smooth; Ma Gu Xian Tan Ji is vigorous and solemn, with exquisite structure and full of charm. Ode to the Tang Dynasty, carved on a cliff, is the largest regular script in Yan Zhenqing. Calligraphy is square and smooth, and the bones and muscles are not exposed. Song tablet, also known as Song Guangping tablet, is broad and vigorous; "Eight official pavilions report good deeds", with strict weather; Yuan Jie Bei is vigorous and far-reaching; The book of manna words focuses on harmony; "Li Bei", the calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, but the strokes are thin, which is different from other inscriptions; Yan's Temple Monument is rich in calligraphy, which is also his masterpiece in his later years. Handed down from generation to generation are: mat stickers, nephew sacrifice manuscripts, Liu Zhongshi stickers, self-written confessions and so on.
Political life
During the kaiyuan period (713-741), he was promoted to imperial academy, was appointed as the supervisor of the empire for four times, and moved to the temple to serve the empire. Rejected by Yang, the powerful minister at that time, he was demoted to the plain (now Shandong) as the satrap and was named Yan Plain. Su Zong, to Fengxiang granted constitutional ministers, moved to the imperial doctor. During the reign of Emperor Zong, the official went to the official department to be a minister, the prince was a surname, and the Duke of Lu was named "Yan".
In the 14th year of Tianbao (755), Pinglu, Fanyang and Hedong led an Anshi Rebellion. He contacted his brother Yan Gaoqing to fight back. Seventeen counties nearby responded accordingly, and promoted him as the leader, with 200,000 troops, which made An Lushan dare not rashly attack Tongguan. In the first year of Dezong Xingyuan, Li Xilie rebelled in Huaixi. The traitor Qilu took the opportunity to kill him by Li Xilie and sent someone to persuade him to be hanged by Li Xilie. Hearing that Yan Zhenqing was killed, the soldiers of the three armed forces burst into tears.
Six months later, the rebel general Li Xilie was killed by one of his own, and the rebellion was put down. Yan Zhenqing's coffin was escorted back to Beijing and buried in the Yanshi Ancestral Hall in Jingzhao for ten thousand years. Dezong painstakingly wrote a letter, announcing the abolition of the DPRK for five days, and the whole country mourned. De Zongqin issued an imperial edict, remembering Yan Zhenqing's life as "superior to Kuang Guo, loyal to the body, endowed with organic talents, outstanding public loyalty, loyal to the four dynasties, tired of being held hostage, tireless in death, observing its heyday and remaining in reality". He is honest, clean and honest, has a sense of justice, never condescends to the powerful, condescends to flatter, and is famous for his benevolence and righteousness.
Calligraphy characteristics
Judging from the broad atmosphere of Yan Zhenqing's education in Tao Zhu, his calligraphy realm can be regarded as eclectic, so as to reach its height, learn from others and reach its breadth. There are several main reasons for this:
1, from Yan's system.
Yan Shigu's grandfather Yan Zhitui studied calligraphy and was good at it. Since the Southern Dynasties, Zhenqing's ancestors praised cursive script for people at that time. Among Yan Zhenqing's contemporaries, such as Yan Yaoqing and Yan, they are also quite accomplished in calligraphy, and they are all good at calligraphy. So Yan Zhenqing was deeply influenced by calligraphy. Yan Jia's calligraphy tradition is very inspiring to him. He even thinks that "when it comes to boys, the road is a great loss." Therefore, Yan Zhenqing's goal of "being consistent with the ancients" in calligraphy has many considerations, including the development of Yan's calligraphy tradition.
2. It comes from the Yin system.
The Yin family also produced many famous calligraphers. Yan and Yin have been married for generations, and the two calligraphy studies have converged. Yan Zhenqing's father and uncle were lonely and grew up in the home of his uncle Yin Zhongrong, who was "able to write for the world" at that time, and were taught brushwork. Yan Zhenqing was taught by his mother, Mrs Yin, and absorbed the nutrition of Yin calligraphy.
I got a true story from a generation of saint Zhang Xu. Yan Zhenqing admired Zhang Xu very much, and sincerely learned from Zhang Xu, and won his teaching. He paid special attention to learning Zhang Xu's method of writing with pen, writing with gods and attacking the beauty of books. This is extremely important for the formation of Yan Shu.
4. The predecessors said that Yan Chu was the inheritance and development of a great master, Chu Suiliang. Mi Fei's "Yan Yan Shu" said: "Yan Zhenqing learns from Chu Suiliang." Many people have confirmed this statement today. Shen said: "Yan Pingyuan's calligraphy originated in the south of Chu River, and its regular script structure is rigorous, which often has the wind of missing Buddhist temples and monuments." Commentators may say that it is easier to find communication with Chu Suiliang in brushwork, structure and fineness from works with fine strokes, such as Magu Mountain Xiantan, Jingju Temple Title and Song Guangping Monument.