Yan Zhenqing was a famous minister and calligrapher in Tang Dynasty. In the history of China's calligraphy, Yan Zhenqing may be an odd number. He was not only a calligrapher who pioneered the atmosphere, but also an excellent courtier in the Tang Dynasty. His character and morality are more perfect.
Yan Zhenqing was a famous calligrapher in Tang Dynasty. Yan Zhenqing's master was Zhang Xu, and Zhang Xu was also a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. Later, Yan Zhenqing studied calligraphy seriously and turned the advantages of others into his own. Later, he gradually formed his own school. His calligraphy has a momentum that others can't copy, and later it formed a "face". His calligraphy works are appreciated and praised by later generations.
Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy shocked the world, but his patriotism was even more surprising. As we all know, thinkers are usually compassionate. There was a famous allusion at that time. He served as governor of the plains. Under the management of An Lushan, once An Lushan tried to launch a rebellion, Yan Zhenqing found out about it, so he drank his own wine every day to confuse An Lushan and make him think he didn't know about it. However, in fact, he is digging channels to contact his brother every day, ready to deal with him. When An Lushan was ready to rebel, he found that Yan Zhenqing had gathered so many soldiers to resist himself.
Later, everyone heard that Li Xilie had launched a rebellion. Yan Zhenqing was over 70 years old. At this time, we are already preparing for retirement. Besides, in ancient times, Yan Zhenqing was different. He personally told Li Xilie the truth and advised him not to resist, but Li Xilie killed him. Later, after Li Xilie's death, his body was transported back to China, but officials of the whole dynasty mourned him in memory of this patriotic calligrapher. At that time, the emperor even gave up the imperial court for eight days to mourn Yan Zhenqing.
Yan Zhenqing is not only patriotic in calligraphy, but also wise and brave in saving the country in his own way. He can be said to be an all-rounder in the Tang Dynasty. On another occasion, his master took him to practice and study. He said he was studying, but he didn't have a word of calligraphy. He thought that the master was unwilling to teach him the most important calligraphy, blamed him for not loving himself, and asked him why he did it. His master told him that if you want to learn calligraphy well, you must learn to observe yourself and know yourself. Later, the master told him directly that he should learn to teach himself. He found that only in this way can he learn knowledge better and practice calligraphy better. Yan Zhenqing listened to the teacher carefully and became a famous calligrapher.
Yan Zhenqing's nephew's contribution is known as the second best script in the world, second only to Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Lanting Pavilion, and its artistic value can be seen. If you ask why My Nephew's Contribution is regarded as a masterpiece through the ages, Yan Zhenqing's My Nephew's Contribution has promoted China's calligraphy to a new height and broadened the content of China's calligraphy. Through this calligraphy work, we can not only get a glimpse of Yan Zhenqing's superb calligraphy skills, but also deeply feel Yan Zhenqing's character and integrity!
It is divided into five main points:
First, the difference between Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhenqing.
What was the status of calligraphy in China before Yan Zhenqing wrote "Sacrifice to a Nephew"? It can be described in one word, that is beauty, elegance and beauty. Of course, these four words are inaccurate, but we can imagine who was the representative of the highest art of calligraphy in China before Yan Zhenqing appeared.
Without thinking, this is the calligraphy style of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xizhi, in a word, elegant. This elegance is noble elegance and nobility. Let's not forget that Wang Xizhi is not an ordinary man, but an aristocratic dude, but he is very different from the dude we remember. Although Wang Xizhi is a rich second generation, people care about people's sufferings and often worry about the country and people, so there is a legend that an old woman sells fans in the street.
However, we can see that Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, on the whole, is a kind of gentle and neutral beauty. Even the cursive script that we thought should be able to fly and dance has become gentle and elegant in Wang Xizhi's works.
However, when we look at Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy, it is different. In a word, Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy is characterized by Zhuang. This kind of power is justified and a great representative. If Wang Xizhi is a gentleman of letters, then Yan Zhenqing is a tough guy.
Of course, this is not only reflected in his famous calligraphy "Sacrifice to My Nephew", but also in Yan Zhenqing's regular script. So some people say that Yan Zhenqing's regular script, such as Guan Yu's account, is very imposing.
Second, the times make heroes.
Speaking of life in Yan Zhenqing, we can easily find that the Tang Dynasty was not only a prosperous time, but also a highly prosperous civilization. Yan Zhenqing lived in an era of rapid development of grass art, and the unique unrestrained temperament of the Tang Dynasty allowed artists to display their talents unscrupulously.
If we go further and release our nature and freedom in such a free era, we can only imagine Wei and Jin Dynasties. For example, Ji Kang, Ruan Ji and other seven sages of bamboo forest are the products of that era. Wang Xizhi lived in that era. However, Wang Xizhi's calligraphy did not reach that era, and he became an unparalleled calligrapher in the history of calligraphy in China. After Wang Xizhi, China flourished in the Tang Dynasty, when artists were free. So Yan Zhenqing became the most typical representative of that era. Since then, it has also established the status of two peaks in the history of China calligraphy, which are neck and neck with Wang Xizhi.
Third, the artistic transformation in the new period.
Different from Wang Xizhi, Datang, where Yan Zhenqing lives at the moment, is more bold and open in exploring artistic freedom. However, China's calligraphy is gradually moving from elegance to strength.
In the process of this transformation, Yan Zhenqing's "Sacrificing a Nephew" became the highest representative of his life's calligraphy. Therefore, some people say that Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy is not good enough, so it is better to write in cursive.
Therefore, in the sense of the times, Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy work "Sacrificing a Nephew" is a response to the artistic concept of the times and has become synonymous with the art of that era. No matter from the artistic form, artistic skill or artistic spirit connotation, this is a masterpiece that can be produced in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
Of course, ironically, this treasure, which symbolizes the art of the Tang Dynasty, is also a symbol of the decline and humiliation of the Tang Dynasty in a sense in terms of bearing and design. Because the historical event marked by this is the turning point of the Tang Dynasty, the Anshi Rebellion in. This meaning adds a deeper and richer connotation to "offering sacrifices to nephews".
Fourth, angry work.
China's calligraphy emphasizes that unintentional Yoga Yu is the best. Wang Xizhi's Preface to Lanting Seventeen Posts, Huai Su's Autobiographical Posts and Wang Xianzhi's Fast Snow Posts are all products of improvisation. But unlike these improvisational works of art, Yan Zhenqing's mood in creating this work of art is much more complicated and difficult than that of previous calligraphers.
As we all know, this painting is Yan Zhenqing's work of bowing down to his nephew who was brutally killed by the Anshi Rebellion in the battle to defend the country and fight against the Anshi Rebellion. Therefore, Yan Zhenqing not only hates the enemy of the country, but also regrets it. He poured his anger into his pen and shed tears. Therefore, this kind of intense emotion and anger can't be compared with any calligraphy works of China for thousands of years. No calligrapher's calligraphy works have such a sad mood.
Fifth, sublimation.
Of course, if we just express Yan Zhenqing's sadness, we can't make this calligraphy a masterpiece through the ages. What really makes him another masterpiece after Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Lanting Pavilion is that Yan Zhenqing's feelings in this calligraphy work have risen to a feeling of home and country.
The reason for losing my nephew lies in the chaos of the rebels, and this layer of family hatred is naturally hidden in it. Yan Zhenqing is a man loyal to his country, and his emotional sublimation is naturally not limited to the level of personal sorrow. For the tragic experience of his nephew, he can naturally have a profound sublimation.
Thus, Yan Zhenqing's "Sacrificing a Nephew" is not only a "manuscript", but also a work that faithfully records the artistic thoughts of the times. He is an old man who is loyal to his country and loves his motherland.