Yan Zhenqing Yan Qinli Beiting Tonglin

Author: Huang Zhongda
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: "Yan Qingli Stele" was written by the great Tang Dynasty calligrapher Yan Zhenqing at the age of seventy for his grandfather, Yan Qingli. The full title is "Stele of Yan Jun, Former Vice Minister of the Secretariat of the State of Kuizhou and Commandant of the Longxi Guard." The stele was built in the 14th year of the Dali era (799 AD) during the Tang Dynasty and is now stored in the Xi'an Stele Forest. It is a representative work of Yan Zhenqing in his later years. "Yan Qingli Stele" exhibits a grand and noble, yet clear and unique style; its brushwork is vigorous and sharp, resembling a cone carving sand. The structure is dignified and majestic, natural and (unadorned), embodying the typical features of the "Yan style." Yan Zhenqing left behind a wealth of calligraphic works, each with distinct forms. To master the Yan style, it is most suitable to start with the "Yan Qingli Stele," as this stele's brushwork is rich, its lines vivid and full of variation, providing learners with excellent technical training. Additionally, the structure of "Yan Qingli Stele" maintains a consistent style with Yan Zhenqing's other steles—broad, steady—allowing learners to clearly follow the lineage when transitioning to other works by Yan Zhenqing.