What are the characteristics of Yan Zhenqing’s calligraphy?

The characteristics of Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy are: square and dense, light horizontal strokes and heavy vertical strokes, strong and round strokes, and solemn and vigorous momentum.

Yan Zhenqing opened up a new and magnificent realm of calligraphy: in terms of characteristics, the appearance, body and shape are completely new, the laws are severe, and the momentum is unprecedented. From an aesthetic point of view, dignified beauty, masculine beauty, and artificial beauty all go hand in hand in the face and body, and You set the standard for future generations.

Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy was mainly guided by Zhang Xu, inheriting the tradition of Wang Xizhi, learning the characteristics of the four schools of early Tang Dynasty, and absorbing fresh nutrients from the calligraphy of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. There are choices and trade-offs when learning. He was the creator of a new calligraphy style in the Tang Dynasty, called 'Yan style'. Coming from the Yan system

Yan Shigu's grandfather, Yan Zhi, practiced calligraphy and was good at calligraphy. Since the Southern Dynasties, Zhenqing's ancestors mostly used Cao Li and Zhuan Kai script, which was praised by people at that time. Among Yan Zhenqing's contemporaries, such as Yan Yaoqing and Yan Xuqing, they were also highly accomplished in calligraphy and were skilled in calligraphy, cursive and seal script.

Therefore, Yan Zhenqing was deeply influenced by calligraphy, and the tradition of calligraphy of the Yan family was very inspiring to him. He even believed that "when it comes to the boy, Si Dao will be mourned." Therefore, Yan Zhenqing set the goal of "equaling with the ancients" in calligraphy. He had many aspects of thinking, including promoting the calligraphy tradition of the Yan family.