This question is also a commonplace question. If we want to talk about technique, I think the Yan style script is easier to write than the European style script.
But from the perspective of calligraphy style, I think European-style calligraphy is actually easier to use, while Yan-style calligraphy is more difficult to write with that kind of depth.
This point can actually be reflected in the situation of our beginners learning two kinds of calligraphy. Anyone who has studied calligraphy should have this experience: when we learn European calligraphy, it is difficult to get started at the beginning. But once you get started, European calligraphy is actually very easy to get started with. But this is not the case with Yanti characters. Yanti calligraphy is relatively easy when you first get started, but if you want to write at a good level, or if you want to write further and have higher attainments, it will take a long time, and the progress will be very rapid. slow.
The reason for this phenomenon is precisely because of the difference in difficulty of their techniques.
However, European-style fonts are easier to learn, improve, and improve after getting started than Yan-ti fonts. Why is this?
I think the reason for this phenomenon is the difference in style characteristics between European and Yanti characters. Furthermore, the requirements for calligraphy standards are also different.
We all know that Ou style refers to Ouyang Xun’s calligraphy, which has always been called the king of regular script and the king of calligraphy. Ouyang Xun's calligraphy is characterized by extremely strict rules.
If we look at Ouyang Xun's famous "Jiucheng Palace Stele", we will find that Ouyang Xun's "Jiucheng Palace Stele" is very well written, and every word in it is well used. The pen, structure, and position are all very precise. Moving the position of any stroke will destroy the effect of the entire word.
When Chinese calligraphers comment on Wang Xizhi's "Lanting Preface", they will say that Wang Xizhi's "Lanting Preface" is too fat if it is increased by one point, and too thin if it is reduced by one point. So I think this conclusion is also suitable in Ouyang Xun's calligraphy. Every word in Ouyang Xun's calligraphy, and moving the position and length of any stroke, will not produce a very ideal effect.
So you will see that Ouyang Xun's calligraphy is almost a representative of the law. Each of his strokes has a fixed position. If you change its position at will, it will destroy the overall feeling of the entire character.
In addition, if we consider Ouyang Xun's calligraphy from the perspective of style, you will find Ouyang Xun's calligraphy. It is the traditional style of Wang Xi's school, which is colorful, changeable, dignified and elegant.
In the big family of Chinese calligraphy, Wang Xizhi is an orthodox representative. It can almost be said that the style of the two kings laid the aesthetic foundation and aesthetic connotation of Chinese calligraphy. Therefore, Ouyang Xun's calligraphy is more acceptable in style, and it is easier for us to learn his calligraphy. .
But Yan Zhenqing’s calligraphy is different. Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy has a masculine beauty and a kind of magnificence. Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy and Ouyang Xun's calligraphy are two completely different styles.
A calligraphy theorist in ancient China once made such an evaluation of Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy, saying that Yan Zhenqing was "the only person to break through the right army's cavalry in thousands of years." It can be seen that Yan Zhenqing's innovation in artistic style is unique. His masculine calligraphy style boldly breaks the tradition. The elegant and dignified calligraphy style of Wang Xizhi directly created a masculine and bold calligraphy style and calligraphy system, so this may be difficult for us who are familiar with Wang Xizhi's elegant school to accept.
And if we learn Yan style calligraphy, the more we write to the end, the more it will involve an understanding and recognition of art and style. Only by fully understanding the artistic style and artistic pursuit of the calligrapher, Only then can we write his calligraphy better. This is obviously more difficult for Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy style and aesthetic pursuit.
Of course, what I talked about here about the ease of understanding and the difficulty of understanding calligraphy styles does not mean that their calligraphy styles are higher or lower. Their calligraphy styles are all good. There is no intention to belittle anyone in it.
You can write good calligraphy by learning European style and Yan style.