But from the perspective of calligraphy style, I think European style characters are actually better to use, and Yan style characters are difficult to write so deeply.
This can actually be reflected in the fact that we are only learning two kinds of calligraphy. Anyone who has studied calligraphy should have this experience: it is difficult for us to learn European calligraphy at first. But when you enter the door, European characters are actually very easy to use. But Yan Di's characters are not like this. Yan Tizi is easy to learn at first, but if you want to write well, or if you want to write further and achieve higher accomplishments, it will take a long time and progress is slow.
This phenomenon occurs precisely because of their different technical difficulties.
However, compared with Yan-style characters, European-style characters are easier to learn, improve and progress after entry. Why?
I think the reason for this phenomenon is the difference in style and characteristics between European style and Yan style. Moreover, the requirements for calligraphy statutes are also different.
As we all know, European style refers to Ou Yangxun's calligraphy, which has always been called the king of regular script and calligraphy. Ou Yangxun's calligraphy is characterized by strict statutes.
If we go to see the famous Jiucheng Palace Monument in Ou Yangxun, we will find that the Jiucheng Palace Monument in Ou Yangxun is very well written, and the pen, structure and position of every word in it are very accurate. Moving the position of any stroke will destroy the effect of the whole word.
When commenting on Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Lanting Pavilion, China calligraphers will say that Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Lanting Pavilion is too fat to add a point and too thin to lose a point. Then I think this conclusion also applies to Ou Yangxun's calligraphy. Every word in Ou Yangxun's calligraphy, if you move the position and length of any stroke, the effect will not be ideal.
So you will see that Ou Yangxun's calligraphy is almost the representative of statutes. Every stroke of his also has a fixed position. If you change his position at will, it will destroy the overall feeling of the whole word.
Besides, if we consider Ou Yangxun's calligraphy from the perspective of style, you will find Ou Yangxun's calligraphy. It is the traditional style of Wang Xizhi, colorful, dignified and beautiful, elegant and luxurious.
Wang Xizhi is a representative of orthodoxy in China's calligraphy family. It can almost be said that the style of two kings and one pulse has laid the aesthetic foundation and connotation of China's calligraphy, so Ou Yangxun's calligraphy is more acceptable in style, and it is easier for us to learn from his calligraphy.
But Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy is different. Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy has a masculine beauty and is magnificent. Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy and Ou Yangxun's calligraphy are two completely different styles.
In ancient China, a calligraphy theorist commented on Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy, saying that Yan Zhenqing was "the only one who broke through the right army fighters for thousands of years". It can be seen that Yan Zhenqing's innovation in artistic style is unique. His masculine and graceful calligraphy style boldly broke the tradition. Beautiful and elegant Wang Xizhi's dignified calligraphy style directly creates a masculine and bold calligraphy style and system, so it may be difficult for us who are familiar with Wang Xizhi's beautiful and elegant school.
And the more we learn Yan calligraphy, the more we write it to the end, the more we will involve an understanding and cognition of art and style. Only by fully understanding the calligrapher's artistic style and artistic pursuit can he write his calligraphy better, which is obviously more difficult for Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy style and aesthetic pursuit.
Of course, what I'm talking about here is the easy and difficult understanding of calligraphy style, not that their calligraphy style, whoever is higher or lower, is good. No matter who is tall or low, it means nothing to belittle. No matter learning European style or Yan style, you can write calligraphy well.