China occupies a special position in the history of calligraphy. Only Yan Zhenqing can shine alongside the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi. His calligraphy features regular script and cursive script. The inscriptions written in regular script are correct, beautiful and powerful. He was born when regular script was popular, which was contrary to Wang Xizhi's typical example and led the new trend of calligraphy.
Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy is called Yan Style, which has its unique style and brushwork. There are many inscriptions left by him, and later calligraphers think that traces of "round pen" can be found in some of his inscriptions, which is different from other calligraphers' "Fang Bi". Yan Zhenqing is regarded as a pioneer by calligraphers with round pens. The use of square pens by him and Wang Xizhi had a far-reaching influence on later generations.
Yan Zhenqing's existing calligraphy works include: Duota Monument, Yan Family Temple Monument, Yan Monument, Ma Gu Xian Tan, and Sacrifice to Bo Manuscript. He and Liu Gongquan, another famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty, were called "Yan Liu".
His works are numerous, and it is said that there are 130 kinds handed down. Many regular script are valued by later generations, such as Twin Towers, Oriental Painting Praise Monument, Magu Fairy Altar, Guo Monument and Li Yanqin Monument. These inscriptions are regular script with personality, characteristics and positive style, but the strokes are thin and thick, and the feet are too weak, so it is required to be verve when learning. His running script "Ji Ming's Nephew's Manuscript" is a work of grief and indignation, and it is called the second running script in the world. The running script also includes "Competing for Seats" and "General Pei's Post".