Yan Zhenqing's

Author: Liu Xiaoqing
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-03-01
Features: The Stele of Yan Qinli, also known as the Yan Qinli Stele, was erected by Yan Zhenqing in memory of his great-grandfather, Yan Qinli. Its full title is "The Stele for the Divine Path of Yan Jun of the Qisu Prefecture, Former Secretary of the Imperial Academy of the Tang Dynasty," written and inscribed by Yan Zhenqing. Yan Zhenqing (709–7785), styled Qingchen, was a native of Jingzhao Wannian and a descendant of Langya Linyi. He was a renowned calligrapher of the mid-Tang Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang, he passed the imperial examination and was appointed as the Court Investigator. Due to his upright and incorruptible character, he was disliked by Yang Guozhong and was dismissed as the Governor of Pingyuan. During the An Lushan Rebellion, he allied with his cousin Yan Gaoqing to raise troops and resist the rebellion. Seventeen nearby prefectures responded and he was elected as the leader of the alliance. Later, he returned to the capital and held various high-ranking positions, including Minister of Personnel, Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and Grand Preceptor, eventually becoming the Duke of Luxun. Thus, he was posthumously known as "Yan Luguo" or "Yan Pingyuan" in later generations. While serving in the court, he frequently clashed with powerful officials and was falsely accused multiple times. During the De Guo period, Li Xili rebelled. The Chancellor Lu Qiji harbored resentment and assigned him to the rebel army as an envoy. Li Xili detained him, but Yan Zhenqing remained steadfast and was ultimately executed unjustly.
The Yan Qinli Stele is known for its vigorous and powerful calligraphy. The original stele was inscribed on all four sides, but only two sides and one side remain today. The text extends only to "In Memory," without the inscription or the date of inscription. However, it is recorded in Ouyang Xiu's (1007–1072) "Collected Records of Ancient Inscriptions" that it was erected in the 14th year of the Dali era (779), but this record does not mention any missing parts of the stele. It appears that Ouyang Xiu saw a complete rubbing of the stele, which included inscriptions and the date of inscription. Based on the recorded date, Yan Zhenqing would have been sixty years old at the time.
In the late Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Mingcheng wrote in "Records of Inscriptions and Steles" that: "Right, the Tang Yan Qinli Stele, composed and inscribed by the Duke of Luxun. During the Yuanyou era (1086–1094), a governor of Chang'an had a garden built in the rear courtyard, and many ancient stone inscriptions from the region were used as foundations. This stele was nearly destroyed but survived, though its inscriptions were erased—a pity!" This indicates that the stele was buried underground during the Yuanyou era, with its inscriptions and date of inscription removed. It remained buried for over eight hundred years until it was unearthed in 1920 on Shehui Road in present-day Xi'an. It was later moved to the new city and then to the Xi'an Stele Forest in 1948.
Yan Zhenqing composed many steles in his lifetime, but most of them have suffered wear and tear from prolonged rubbing or were heavily re-carved. However, this stele, having been buried for a long time, was recently rediscovered with clear and fresh characters, retaining its original artistic essence. It is now published in a photolithographic edition for the reference and study of calligraphy enthusiasts.