How to introduce the calligraphy works of Yan Zhenqing 100?

Authentic Regular Script of Tang Dynasty —— Yan Zhenqing Regular Script

Speaking of regular script, people will call it "Yan Liu". The word "Yan Ti" created by Yan Zhenqing is almost a household name, and it is well known to all women and children. Among many famous regular script writers in the Tang Dynasty, it should be said that Yan Zhenqing is the most innovative one. Every time historian Fan Wenlan talks about calligraphy in the Tang Dynasty, he always says, "Yan Zhenqing in the prosperous Tang Dynasty was the creator of the new trend of calligraphy in the Tang Dynasty." Yan Zhenqing's regular script is magnificent and stands proudly. Regular script is beautiful, and the ancient method is changeable, creating a new style other than the two kings. It truly reflects the prosperous times of the Tang Dynasty. Yan Zhenqing was the pioneer of new book style in Tang Dynasty. His regular script is broad, vigorous, magnificent and innovative. Yan Zhenqing's greatness lies in that he changed the external image of Chinese characters-the writing of Chinese characters changed from danger to dignity and fairness. If we compare Ou Yangxun's regular script with his previous regular script by anthropomorphic method, then the characteristics of European-style characters are horizontal, bold, and loose in structure, giving people the feeling of horizontal image in the image of characters. Regular script evolved to Yan Zhenqing. With extraordinary wisdom and courage, he broke through the shackles and puzzles of various traditions, and thoroughly reformed and consciously combined the structure and pen use of regular script. As a result, the shape of regular script font changed from sideways to people-oriented for the first time in the history of books. As a result, the grand image of the martyrs suddenly stood in front of people. This artistic feature of Emperor Yan's characters always shines brightly. The appearance of Yan-style characters is not isolated or accidental. On the one hand, after entering the middle Tang Dynasty, people's aesthetic tendency changed and wandered unconsciously; On the other hand, under the impetus of the new aesthetic trend of thought, Yan Zhenqing unconsciously provided the new aesthetic trend with a new artistic style that kept pace with the times. Thus, Yan-style characters were born. The so-called change of aesthetic tendency refers to the exclusive respect and worship of Wang Xizhi advocated by Emperor Taizong in the early years, which gradually weakened with the passage of time and even produced rebellious psychology. Han Yu even put forward the aesthetic concept of "flattery is the beauty of popular books". This shocking view was impossible in the early Tang Dynasty. It should be said that this is accompanied by the improvement of the imperial examination system and the decline of aristocratic dominance, and it is also a phenomenon due to the change of people's aesthetic tendency. However, what we said about Yan Zhenqing did not fully reveal his personality characteristics from the beginning. Like other things, there is a process of development. It should be said that after faithfully studying the traditional "brushwork" at that time, he followed the pace of the times, broke through the old shackles, constantly explored, summed up experience in time, boldly created, and achieved fruitful results. It is not difficult to find that Yan Zhenqing's regular script evolved step by step. Let's take a look at his early masterpiece "The Inscription of Multi-Tower Induction", with its rigorous style, the concept of attaching importance to law, the quality of conformity and the traditional method. From this work, we can also understand what is an attitude of absolute faith in calligraphy. Regular script is a regular character with square font and meticulous strokes. (The "Multi-Pagoda Induction Inscription" is a typical "standard font" with slow speed and rhythm in the writing process, requiring that every stroke be collected in place; Among them, the same strokes also need to change-but this change is very small and does not affect the change of speed and rhythm. For example, "point" basically takes advantage of "edge", and its variants are mostly changes in direction. Therefore, later generations always regard ((multi-tower induction inscription) as an introductory model for regular script. At the age of 56, he wrote "Guo Jia Miao Bei", which is no longer the patchwork and slightly vulgar tower style. This monument was built by Guo Ziyi, a famous Zhongxing man in Tang Dynasty, for his father Guo Jingzhi. The solemn and graceful brushwork, strong and tough style, open fonts and solemn occasions constitute a tacit understanding. At this time, Yan Zhenqing really found his own feeling, extended brushwork began to appear, the concept of replacing cleverness with clumsiness has been formed, and the so-called positive image of Yan Zi has matured. By the time he was 62 years old, when he wrote "The Fairy Altar of Magushan", it was already the true face of an authentic Yan-style character. This is the formation process of Yandi characters. Yan Zhenqing is a unique existence, a monument in the history of calligraphy and a great symbol of national spirit. "Learning to be excellent is an official"! This reputation is well deserved by Yan Zhenqing.

The above answers are for your reference and hope to help you!

hangzhou library

References:

Li Zongwei. Understanding the Art of Calligraphy: China Calligraphy Boutique 105 Lecture. Shandong Pictorial Publishing House, June 2007.