More than 400 years after Wang Xizhi, another great figure appeared in the history of calligraphy in China in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and this is Yan Zhenqing! He is great because he is different from Ou Yu and Er Wang, who can "accept the ancient law in new ideas and create new laws outside the ancient meaning". There are thousands of households in Tao Zhu, among which there are many families, and Shaoling's poems and long Li Wen all declined with the eight generations, so they became the book of the Tang Dynasty "(Ma Zonghuo). Create a new style of calligraphy that represents the vigorous, broad and vigorous masculinity of the Tang Dynasty.
The book that best represents Yan Zhenqing's personality spirit and artistic talent is "Sacrificing a Nephew", which is known as "the second running book in the world". The benevolent sees water, and the wise sees mountains. After in-depth research and analysis, several mathematicians in modern times even commented that his calligraphy art value surpassed that of Xu Lanting. So why do later generations have a high evaluation of "Sacrificing a Nephew"? There are three main considerations.
One is its humanistic spirit. Apart from Laozi, Zhuangzi and Buddhism, China's way of dealing with the world is mainly based on the brave and enterprising philosophy of Confucianism, which dominates China people from generation to generation. Taking words as the carrier and pen and ink as the form, The Draft for Sacrificing a Nephew not only expresses the affection that blood is thicker than water, but also expresses the spirit of sacrifice for the country and the people. This spirit is admired in the bones of the Chinese nation, so it evokes the call of China people from generation to generation.
The second is its artistic value. Yan Zhenqing's "Sacrificing a Nephew" is only a practical manuscript in academic life, unlike the deliberate and unplanned calligraphy works used by calligraphers today, such as space films. But with its own charm, it has become the aesthetic realm of our calligraphy. Why? Because he is Yan Zhenqing's true feelings, which he wrote unintentionally. Because of emotional excitement, he didn't stop writing typos, so he revised them repeatedly in the circle. Instead, it has achieved the combination of reality and reality and the expression of priorities in pen and ink. The beauty lies in the artistic realm where it is not interesting but wonderful. In addition, "Sacrificing a Nephew" is an original, so it is particularly precious.
Third, its documentary value. As a pivotal figure in the Tang Dynasty, after the Anshi Rebellion, Yan Zhenqing and his brother Yan Gaoqing and his son stood up together, launched a life-and-death struggle with the rebels, and personally experienced the hardships of national enmity and family hatred. "My nephew's sacrifice" records the process of my nephew Ji Ming being beheaded and executed for fighting with thieves. True feelings and natural writing, together with his manuscripts for Uncle and for Seats, have become the first-hand materials for future generations to study the history of the Tang Dynasty.
In a word, the humanistic spirit and artistic brilliance of Yan Zhenqing and his "Sacrificing a Nephew" will not only become a swan song in the history of calligraphy, but their patriotic feelings will also move and inspire generation after generation!