Yan Zhenqing was a famous minister in the Tang Dynasty. Why is Yan Zhenqing's Draft for Sacrificing a Nephew called "the second running script in the world"?

In the era of Wang Xizhi, cursive script, cursive script and regular script all completed the transitional stage, and calligraphy became an independent ornamental art, so Wang Xizhi's innovation was in line with the requirements of the times. Compared with Han Dynasty and Western Jin Dynasty, Wang Xizhi's calligraphy style is characterized by exquisite brushwork and changeable structure. Wang Xizhi's greatest achievement is to damage the ancient method and change the simple calligraphy style of Han and Wei dynasties into exquisite and beautiful calligraphy style.

In short, the introduction of Chinese character writing from practicality to the realm of paying attention to techniques and tastes is actually the awakening of calligraphy art, which indicates that calligraphers not only discover books.

Therefore, the significance of Preface to Lanting lies not only in the artistry of the work, but also in its creativity in creating a generation of calligraphy styles, so it is a calligrapher and calligraphy critic in history.

I think it is appropriate to list it as the best running book in the world.

It's a manuscript about mourning my nephew. Because this book was written by Yan in extreme grief and indignation, regardless of the handwriting, the words fluctuate with the calligrapher's mood, which is purely a natural expression of spiritual peace and peacetime labor. This is rare in the whole history of calligraphy. It can be said that "Sacrificing a Nephew" is one of the original works with great historical and artistic value, which is precious. Just like Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, the world's first running book, Wang Xizhi wrote half drunk, which even he could not surpass.

In the history of calligraphy in China, this work is the most vigorous and harmonious. The so-called "dry autumn wind, wet spring breeze" is also the only work that can be used. In Yuan Dynasty, Xian Yushu called it the second running script in the world. "The best running script in the world" has been occupied by Wang Xizhi's Preface to Lanting, so it should be ranked second.

In fact, the manuscript of offering sacrifices to nephews is the best running script in the world. "Sacrificing a Nephew" is a model of natural beauty, which can't be done and is straightforward. Although Preface to Lanting Collection is also very beautiful, it is more artificial than natural beauty.

Ji Ming's Draft for Sacrificing a Nephew (also known as the Draft for Sacrificing a Nephew) was written by Yan Zhenqing, one of the three most famous calligraphy posts in China's calligraphy history and known as the "second running script in the world" (the other two are Wang Xizhi's Preface to Lanting Collection and Su Shishu's Cold Food Post). It is now in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.