Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy is exquisite and good at it. Chu Suiliang, a beginner, studied under Zhang Xu and got his brushwork. Its regular script is dignified and majestic, and its running script is vigorous and powerful, which has created a "Yan style" regular script and has a great influence on later generations. Together with Zhao Mengfu, Liu Gongquan and Ou Yangxun, they are also called "four masters of regular script". Together with Liu Gongquan, they are called "Yan Liu" and "Yangu". He is also good at poetry, such as You, Ji, Wu, Ji, Lu Ji and Linchuan Ji, all of which have been lost. The Song people compiled Yan Ji.
Yan Zhenqing, a native of Langya Yanshi, was a scholar in the 22nd year of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty (734). He served as a censor and assistant in the temple. Later, because he offended Yang, the powerful minister, he was demoted to be the prefect of the plain and was called "Yan Plain" by the world. During the Anshi Rebellion, Yan Zhenqing led the rebels to fight against the rebels and once recovered Hebei.
Calligraphy influence
Yan Zhenqing's original calligraphy is magnificent and dignified, and its handwriting has changed from slender in the early Tang Dynasty to square and has a centripetal force. The pen is vigorous and powerful, and the central brushwork is good. Full of bones and muscles, but also sharp. Generally, horizontal painting is slightly thinner, vertical painting, point, skimming and pressing are slightly thicker. This book is magnificent in style and momentum, and has the spirit of flourishing Tang Dynasty.
His cursive script is vigorous, expressive, calm and vigorous, which opens up a complete life for the cursive script after Wang School. Yan Zhenqing's running script is vigorous and vigorous. This style also embodies the prosperous style of the Tang Dynasty empire and conforms to his noble personality. It is a typical example of the perfect combination of calligraphy beauty and personality beauty, so it is praised as "the second running script in the world" by later generations.