Explanation of Calligraphy Techniques in Yan Zhenqing's Yan Qinli Stele

Author: Wang Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Ethereal and divine, feel the rhythm of master's brush; every stroke has its origin, grasp the mysteries of ink splashing! The full name of "Yan Qinli Stele" is "Yan Jun Shen Dao Bei" (Shen Dao Stele for Yan Qinli, the former Librarian of the Imperial Secretariat and Governor of Kuizhou Commandery), written by Yan Zhenqing for his great-grandfather, Yan Qinli. In ancient times, the path before a tomb was called Shen Dao, marked by stone pillars as signs, which is essentially the tombstone. This stele was personally inscribed by Yan Zhenqing, recounting the merits of the Yan family ancestors and narrating the achievements of later generations in the Tang Dynasty.
The Yan Qinli Stele is inscribed on all four sides, with only two stones and one side remaining today, text up to "[Ming Yu]" (Inscription). The stele has 19 lines on the front, 20 lines on the back, each with 38 characters, and 5 lines on the side, each with 37 characters, totaling 1,667 characters. The inscription on the left side was worn away in the Northern Song Dynasty, leaving no record of the stele's establishment date.
Written in his late years at the age of 71, when Yan Zhenqing's style of calligraphy had fully matured, the stele balances elegance within rules while transcending them. The brushwork is exquisitely expressive, with strokes infused with the essence of seal script and clerical script. Each stroke is round and vigorous, clear and unambiguous, with subtle twists and turns. The layout innovates in filling large characters within frames, showcasing grand, powerful penwork, and a composed yet dignified demeanor, free of ostentation yet refined—much like his character: upright, loyal, resolute, unyielding, simple yet tenacious, strong over soft, with inner beauty radiating outward.
Furthermore, having been buried underground for a long time and untouched by later generations' abrasion, the stele retains its full vitality, surpassing other steles by Yan Zhenqing in both spirit and artistry. It stands as the most outstanding among Yan's steles and the best model for studying regular script.