Yan Zhenqing's: Calligraphy of Ancient Poems

Author: Yizhai Editor
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: This post is selected from Yan Zhenqing's masterpiece, Yan Qinli Stele, written when he was sixty years old. Yan Zhenqing, styled Qingchen, was from Xi'an, Shaanxi, with ancestral roots in Linyi, Shandong. He served as the Governor of Pingyuan, Minister of Personnel, and Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Luxun. He died in battle while suppressing rebellion. Both his character and calligraphy were highly regarded by the world. Initially, he studied under Chu Suiliang, later learned brush techniques from Zhang Xu, and incorporated the style of seal script. His regular and running scripts were groundbreaking, and his regular script, known as the "Yan Style," is often compared with Liu Gongquan's, leading to the saying, "Yan's strength, Liu's bone." In his early years, Yan's calligraphy was characterized by heavy, deliberate brushwork, with thin horizontal strokes and thick vertical ones, featuring the "silkworm head and swallow tail" technique, expansive structure, and open atmosphere. In his later years, his brushwork became clear, vigorous, and robust, with square strokes softened into round ones, showing a mature and effortless style, a facing structure, and a majestic, powerful. His influence on his time and later generations was immense. Yan Qinli Stele lay buried underground for a long time and was unearthed in 1922, preserving its characters in excellent condition. It is considered the best calligraphic work among Yan's steles that can convey the original form and spirit, with bold, upright, and dignified structure, strong and disciplined style, and is highly revered by the calligraphy teaching community.