As we all know, China's calligraphy can be divided into regular script, running script, cursive script, seal script and official script. Among them, seal script and official script were used earlier, before paper was invented, and most of the words left were engraved on hard objects such as Oracle Bone Inscriptions, stone tools, Zhong Ding and stone tablets. This involves a problem: the writer is probably not a sculptor, so there is no calligraphy or original work. When we talk about the ranking of China's calligraphy works, it is basically limited to the three-body cursive script.
In recent reports, when Yan Zhenqing's "Manuscript for Sacrificing a Nephew" is mentioned, it is usually said that this work has the reputation of "the second running script in the world". The media quoted this statement to show the preciousness of "The Manuscript for Sacrificing a Nephew". However, this may be self-defeating, because it is said that the "Sacrifice to the Nephew" is "second", not a compliment, but a dwarf.
There is a simple reason. There is no doubt that "Sacrificing a Nephew" is the original work of Yan Zhenqing, a calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. You can even know the exact writing year: 758 AD, the first year of Gan Yuan, Tang Suzong, with a history of12,61year.
And which work is recognized as "the best running script in the world"? It is Wang Xizhi's famous Preface to Lanting. Preface to Lanting is not only the best calligraphy in the world, but also recognized as the best calligraphy in the world. This is the most accomplished and famous calligraphy work written by all China people.