Qinli Stele: Copying and Creation

Author: Lin Dongtong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: "Qinli Beibei" was written by Yan Zhenqing at the age of seventy-one, fully demonstrating his robust and majestic style, with a grand and magnificent artistic demeanor that had reached a mature phase. Through his years of teaching practice and exploration, he found that beginners learning Yan's style should start with this stele. How to practice "Qinli Beibei" should focus on the following aspects.
1. Preparation of writing tools. For general practitioners, it is unnecessary to excessively pursue luxurious brushes, paper, ink, and other tools, but it should also not be too casual, otherwise it will be counterproductive. The paper should be rough rather than smooth, with semi-saturated paper being the best. Too thin paper is difficult to control, while too thick paper does not absorb ink well, making the strokes lack depth and fullness. Brushes should be long-haired goat hair. Since the lines of Yan's characters vary greatly in thickness, the brush tip should not be too long. A slightly thicker brush tip is better, as it can maintain the elasticity of the brush even under large fluctuations in pressure and movement.
2. This stele has an expansive and powerful aura, with strong and well-defined lines. The grip should be with the wrist and elbow suspended, and it is better to practice while standing.
3. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the calligrapher's life and career, carefully and meticulously study the stele, and accurately grasp the overall stylistic characteristics.