Han Huimin
Just as poetry is divided into schools due to region and style, there is also a saying of "South School" and "North School" in Chinese calligraphy circle. For thousands of years, people have been talking about the "neutral and handsome" style of southern calligraphy represented by Wang Xizhi, and at the same time they have not forgotten to praise the "vigorous" style of northern calligraphy. ?
The representative figure of this northern calligraphy school and its style is Yan Zhenqing.
Yan Zhenqing (AD 709-784), whose real name was Chen Qing, was born in Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi, Shaanxi) and his ancestral home was Langya (now Linyi, Shandong). Born in the family of several generations of gentry, he was a scholar. Later, he served as a school book lang, county magistrate, censor, and even an official minister, and was named Duke of Lu County. Recognized by the world as a generation of famous officials with integrity and blood, he is also a famous calligrapher with the same reputation as Wang Xizhi.
Shushan has a road service as its path. This old saying is a perfect description of Yan Zhenqing. When he was 3 years old, his father, then the prince of literature, died of illness, and he and his mother temporarily lived in his grandmother's house. Grandfather is a painter, and mother Yin Shiben is also knowledgeable. Everyone saw Xiao Zhenqing's cleverness and taught him to read and write. He is really diligent and earnest. He is meticulous in chanting scriptures and keeps writing and practicing calligraphy all day. Because my family is poor and I can't afford ink paper, I practice hard day after day with muddy water as ink and walls as paper.
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, 26-year-old Yan Zhenqing became a scholar, and was successively appointed as the school book lang and the county commandant of Liquan. In the busy business, the enthusiasm for practicing calligraphy is growing. Later, he simply resigned and went straight to Luoyang to learn from Cao Sheng Zhang Xu. Zhang Xu didn't teach him specific techniques, just taught him two words. One day, diligence: study hard, practice hard, accumulate over a long period; Second, enlightenment: carefully examine physics and gain its charm. Under the master's training, his calligraphy is a combination of rubbings, folio and cursive script, which has made great progress.
Because Yan Zhenqing has read the classics, he is proud of his poetry books, which has inserted soaring wings into his calligraphy vision and expanded the infinite space. The evolution of calligraphy since the Wei and Jin Dynasties and the influence of the weather since the Han and Tang Dynasties have caused him to have inexplicable impulses in posting and writing. Looking at the exquisite calligraphy of father and son and speculating on the excellent works of Chu Suiliang and Yu Shinan, when we talk about music, we always feel a kind of unfinished regret. He thought, he tried, and after repeated sufferings and pains, he finally made up his mind to break through the shackles of his predecessors, speak out boldly, act spontaneously, and break into a different world. To this end, he learned from the strengths of various schools in terms of structure, brushwork and form, and explored a calligraphy style that fully expressed his heart. In the font structure, the positive potential is used as much as possible to make the left and right vertical pens slightly curved, which gives people an elegant, generous and steady feeling. In the use of brushwork, we pay attention to the use of fingers and wrists, which is not only good at the clever use of Tibetan front and Tibetan middle, but also emphasizes the lifting and frustration of the pen, making the brushwork extremely flexible. So as to release a heroic and unrestrained momentum in the overall form of the text, giving people a very elastic tension and vigorous visual beauty. Entering the age of knowing destiny, Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy creation reached its peak. His regular script "Biography of Ma Gu Xian Tan" and running script "Sacrifice to My Nephew" are his representative works, which indicate that vigorous and vigorous facial style has been formed. As for seventy-year-old, his masterpiece "Li Yanqin Monument" combines rigidity with softness, and Zhang Chi is just right. A kind of natural beauty, a kind of graceful beauty, declares that Yan calligraphy has entered the realm of perfection.
At that time, the banner of calligraphy reform in Yan Zhenqing was not accepted and recognized by mainstream calligraphy circles. In view of Wang Xizhi's widespread calligraphy, people judged the standard of calligraphy at that time. As Du Fu said, "Hard and thin calligraphy is the only way to know God" (Song of Li Chao's Xiao Zhuan), and hard and thin calligraphy style is the best. When Yan Ti came out, many people derided it as "ink pig" and dismissed it because of its thick strokes. Real art can be compared with time. It was not until the Northern Song Dynasty that people really appreciated the charm of Yan's calligraphy and realized its rare value. Zhu, a famous calligraphy theorist in the Northern Song Dynasty, listed Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy as the first masterpiece in the Tang Dynasty, and came to the conclusion that "there is no public figure since Xian". Su Shi, a great writer and calligrapher, even asserted: "Poetry is about Korea, calligraphy is about Yan Pingyuan, and painting is about Wu Daozi, and those who can change the world from ancient times to modern times will be finished" ("Wu Daozi" They all highly praised Yan Zhenqing's innovation and self-integration in calligraphy. Since then, Yan's calligraphy has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, appreciated and respected by the book world and the world.
? Yan Zhenqing, who came from an official's family, often boasted that calligraphy and writing were just hobbies, and his occupation was to be an official in politics.
In the 22nd year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 734), Yan Zhenqing entered politics as a scholar and became a school bookkeeper. Although he has experienced many changes, he has lived an affluent life. He has served as Liquan, Chang 'an County Commandant, four censors, and even the censor in the temple. During the period, he often traveled and feasted with his poetry friends Gao Shi and Du Fu, and wrote poems. Scholars often criticize the language of political affairs. At that time, Prime Minister Yang held a grudge against this. In the name of selecting talents and appointing people, Yan Zhenqing was expelled from Chang 'an in Tianbao 1 1 (AD 752) and demoted to the magistrate of Pingyuan County, two thousand miles away.
In Shandong Plain, Yan Zhenqing did his duty diligently and loved the people. He abandoned tyranny, betrayed treachery, became loyal and virtuous, and the people lived and worked in peace. Gao Shi, a poet, praised his achievements in benefiting one party: "After he became an official, he raised his pillow and raised the breeze. The very rich have bowed their heads and fled back to Li Nong (Monsoon Yan Ping Prefecture). However, the tree wants to be quiet, but the wind will not stop. Pingyuan County is under the jurisdiction of An Lushan, the special envoy of our three towns. In the year of Tianbao 14 (AD 755), An Lushan defiantly rebelled and Yan Zhenqing was outraged. He decisively contacted his brother, Yan Gaoqing, then governor of Changshan, to resist, and his nephew and son Ji Ming rushed to seventeen counties nearby to form an alliance, praising Yan Zhenqing as an ally and uniting 200,000 soldiers to bravely resist the enemy. An Lushan came to besiege Changshan and fought fiercely for three days. Water and food were exhausted in the city, Gao Qing and his son were captured, and Ji Ming was killed. Because of Yan Zhenqing's strong resistance, An Lushan was once confined to the east of Tongguan. Later, Yan Zhenqing sent people to Luoyang, Hebei and other places to look for Ji Ming's remains, but only his head was found. At that time, his grief and indignation could not be suppressed, so he made a masterpiece "Sacrificing a Nephew" in one go.
In the first year of Daizong Dali (AD 765), Yan Zhenqing, then assistant minister of punishments, was demoted to Sima Jizhou (now Ji 'an, Jiangxi) for playing the role of Prime Minister Yuan Zai in the way, and was appointed as Fuzhou Secretariat three years later. During his five years in office, he cared about the sufferings of the people, built water conservancy projects, helped farmers and mulberry farmers, and vigorously advocated the civilized wind of respecting morality and keeping etiquette. In view of the long-term flooding of Fuhe River, he led the people to build a long stone dam beside the island in the middle of the river, which not only eliminated the flood but also irrigated the farmland. The people named it Qianjinpi and built a temple to show their respect and nostalgia for him. Now social customs are more open, which is manifested in marriage. A husband can divorce his wife or husband. Yang Zhijian, a Confucian scholar, suffered from not becoming famous in reading, and his family came down. His wife is fierce and frivolous, and has filed divorce proceedings with the state government many times. In this regard, Yan Zhenqing sympathized with Confucian scholars, but wanted to ban them. Impatient, she was allowed to divorce, but she beat the woman for an excuse, subsidized Yang Zhijian's grain and cloth, and told her to go on a business trip with the army. The story spread in all directions, and the listeners all applauded and believed it. As far as influence is concerned, people pay attention to observing morality and etiquette, and the social atmosphere is becoming more and more harmonious.
In the third year of Dezong Jianzhong (AD 782), Yan Zhenqing, then the official minister, often stood up for his words and was repeatedly rejected by the traitor Qilu. Qilu often mocked this loyal representative who had been outspoken since Su Zong and Dai Zong. Yan Zhenqing, who is as strong as fire, can't bear it. He once denounced in court: "when you rebelled against officials, your father's royal official head was sent to Pingyuan county." I saw Master Lu's face covered with blood. I wanted to help him wipe it, but I was afraid of rubbing my face, so I licked the blood on my face with my tongue. Now Xianggong treats me so badly! " Its meaning is strict, and the ministers applaud. Unexpectedly, Qilu bears a grudge in public. In the winter of that year, Huaining made Li Xilie our envoy, relying on fourteen states to rebel against the imperial court. At this time, Qilu killed people with a knife, so he played to Dezong: Li Xilie is outstanding for his merits and virtues, but he is youthful and needs elegant officials to please him. Yan Zhenqing, an old minister of three dynasties, is famous in China. After the news came out, the ministers were as keen as torches. They all saw through Qilu's sinister intentions and tried to convince him. Yan Zhenqing righteously said: "Your life is also, how can you avoid it!" With a 74-year-old body, I went. The traitor Li Xilie longed to be king, so he turned to worship Yan Zhenqing. He was rejected and severely condemned, so he killed him miserably. After Yan Zhenqing's death, the court posthumously awarded Stuart and Wenzhong. Dezong relatives granted the imperial edict that "only the sages of the country can be loyal to the body", and the imperial court was abolished for 8 days, and the whole country mourned this loyal minister who died for the country.
Yan Zhenqing's innovation is a book, he is upright and upright, and his shocking feat is praised by the world. Its origin is almost based on its profound clan background and distant moral inheritance.
Yan family, whose ancestral home is Langya, has always been a famous family in history. Its ancestors have served Lu for generations and have been the hometown of Confucianism since the late Spring and Autumn Period. Of the 72 famous disciples of Confucius, 8 were descendants of Yan, among whom Yan Hui was the most proud disciple of Confucius. Influenced by Confucianism, Yan's family has been handed down from generation to generation, and famous ministers have come forth in large numbers. Yan Zhitui, the fifth ancestor of Yan Zhenqing, was a famous writer, calligrapher and educator in Northern Qi Dynasty. His Family Instructions for Yan Family is based on carrying forward the traditional Confucianism, which has a wide and far-reaching influence on later generations. Wang Xizhi, a calligrapher from Langya, is also a Confucian scholar in Shidun. As early as the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, his calligrapher's influence was well known in his hometown. Influenced by family and social customs, being the soul of human beings and the root of calligraphy has already penetrated into the soul of Yan Zhenqing.
Growing up in such a family and social atmosphere, Yan Zhenqing has high aspirations, started early, and strived to be ambitious and self-reliant. In order to encourage myself and others at the same time, I wrote a four-line poem "Persuade to Learn" that people are familiar with so far in my early years:
Later, he joined the army and became an official. He set an example and fought bravely, inspiring soldiers to kill the enemy. Taking Pei Min, a valiant soldier who was known as "General Sargingo" in the prosperous Tang Dynasty as a model, he wrote "To General Pei": "If a horse is dragon and tiger, why can it take off?" "If the sword dance swims with electricity, it will return with the wind." "Shooting a hundred horses means shooting ten thousand people." And with fierce momentum, such as the pen of a sword, books and poems as posts, for soldiers to read and taste, in order to boost morale and bravely kill the enemy. By the end of his life, Yan Zhenqing had accumulated all his experiences and feelings, including poetry, art and books. His book was "Taking Books with Guo Servant". His calligraphy is magnificent, vigorous and open-minded, with profound and thought-provoking lines between the lines. Warn the world earnestly: those who walk a hundred miles are half ninety, and it is hard to say that the night will end. It serves to show that Yan Zhenqing, who is immersed in the theory of poetry and love letters, has been familiar with Confucian traditional thoughts all his life and practiced them! Be a man, be upright and upright in honesty and frankness; Don't set a new example for books. Yan Zhenqing integrated the two, completely rooted in Confucian morality. Only in this way can we be an official, remain honest and upright, dare to speak out, be worthy of the people and sacrifice our lives for justice. These beliefs and ethics are all formed in calligraphy, and the temple is full of gas, such as a tripod sitting in the hall, showing a spirit of justice and integrity. Looking closely at his words, he is as quiet as a mountain and as dynamic as electricity, showing his potential and hiding his front, giving people strength and change, meteorology and soul. This perfect combination of personality beauty and calligraphy beauty enables people to clearly see his figure of worrying about the country and the people, his heroic posture of fighting in the battlefield, and even his heroic spirit of loyalty to the country and generosity. I deeply feel his noble quality of being gentle, polite and upright, as well as his lofty and honest saint appearance! This is Yan Zhenqing. A loyal minister of the Tang Dynasty who served the country in wyndell dichinson, a passionate calligrapher with a word like his own!