The Background of "A Manuscript for Sacrificing a Nephew"
The Manuscript for Sacrificing a Nephew was written by Yan Zhenqing to his late cousin Yan Gaoqing and nephew Yan Jiming in the first year. At that time, Yan Gaoqing was appointed as the prefect of Changshan County, which coincided with the outbreak of Anshi Rebellion. Yan Gaoqing and his son Yan Jiming were arrested when the city was broken. An Lushan coerced Yan and his son to defect, but they refused to surrender. Thieves are often scolded. An Lushan became angry from embarrassment and killed more than 30 people in the Yanshi family. Yan and his son's upright character and the spirit of death are admirable.
Yan Zhenqing was heartbroken when he learned about it. He ordered people to go to Changshan County to look for Yan Jiming's body and bring it back to his nephew. At the same time, Yan Zhenqing wrote this immortal sacrifice manuscript at home. Under such a special background, the manuscript of offering sacrifices to nephews has long gone beyond the scope of calligraphy works and cannot be defined by ordinary works of art, which also makes the position of the manuscript of offering sacrifices to nephews extraordinary.
The manuscript of "The Lost Nephew" is filled with emotion.
There are different standards to judge the value and status of calligraphy works, but whether there is rich emotion is an important standard. In the history of calligraphy and painting, many techniques are natural and ingenious, but their feelings are indifferent. The works are entirely for art and their status is often not high.
On the other hand, the memorial manuscript was written in one go. Although many places were deleted and smeared, the brushwork was vigorous, and Yan Zhenqing's grief and indignation were vividly displayed between the beginning of the ink pause. The full text is magnificent and full of emotion, which is not comparable to ordinary works.
Yan Zhenqing's quality makes his works more valuable.
As the saying goes, words are like people, and the value of calligraphy works plays a great role in the author's personal character. Yan Zhenqing's handwriting is simple and honest, but also upright and upright. He defected from the public during the An Shi Rebellion, and eventually became a martyr, which made his calligraphy works valuable to by going up one flight of stairs.