Famous Chinese calligraphy Yan Zhenqing
1 min readDuring the early Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Shimin’s admiration of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi contributed to the predominance of their calligraphic works.
By the period of the mid-Tang Dynasty, the innovation of the calligraphic style began, and was pushed by Yan Zhenqing to its peak. Yan Zhenqing (709－785) was from Wannian County, Jingzhao . He succeeded Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi to be the most influential calligrapher who acquired the highest achievement.
He changed the bony and stiff approach of writing into a round and full manner, which embodied the thriving golden age of the Tang Dynasty. Yan had a great many calligraphic works.
The most famous ones included Funeral Address for Nephew, Abundant Treasure Pagoda and Self-inscribed Appointment. The Yan style is the text-book style which every calligrapher of later generations must imitate.
