Yan Zhenqing (Chinese: 燕真卿; pinyin: Yan Zhenqing), a native of Linyi, Langya (present-day Linyi, Shandong), was an outstanding calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty. Once known as the Plain Taishou, known as Yan Plain. During the Anshi Rebellion, Yan Zhenqing had meritorious service in resisting thieves, and entered the capital successively serving as an official Shangshu, a prince and a prince, and the founding duke of Fenglu County, so he was also known as the Duke of Yanlu. When Li Xilie rebelled during the reign of Emperor Daizong, the chancellor Lu Qi instigated the emperor to persuade Zhenqing to be left behind by Xi Lie, loyal and unyielding, and later hanged by Li Xilie. He was upright, honest and pure, had a sense of justice, never adjudicated to the magnates, bent over the top, and was known as a righteous martyr.
Su Shi Zengyun: "As for Du Zimei in poetry, as for Han Huizhi in literature, as for Yan Lugong in books, as for Wu Daozi in painting, and the ability to change the world in ancient and modern times is complete." In this way, we can see the status and significance of Yan Zhenqing in the history of calligraphy.
The "Yan Family Temple Stele" was built in the first year of Jianzhong (780). A letter, an inscription, a note. 338 × 176 × 40 cm. Four face carvings, yin and yang on both sides of 24 lines, 47 lines; the side of the stele 6 lines, 52 words. Li Yang Bing seal book forehead, 3 lines 6 characters, yin forehead inscription 10 lines, line 9 words. The stele is stored in the Forest of Steles in Xi'an, and the Palace Museum in Beijing collects song Tuoben.
It is the full title of the stele "Tang Dynasty Tonghui Dafu Xing Xue Wang Youzhu Guoguo Gift Secretary Shaojian Guozi Sacrifice Wine Prince Shaobao Yan Jun Inscription", which was published by Yan Zhenqing for his father Yan Weizhen. In june of the first year of Jianzhong (780), he wrote an article, and in October he wrote a book "Epilogue to the Stele", at the age of 72. At that time, it was when Yan Zhenqing was full of ambition, and the calligraphy style was outstanding and wonderful, which was a representative work of Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy art in his later years, and Li Yangbing's forehead, known as "Double Bi".
Rough (partial)
Honey is long,
Part of Yan Zhenqing's "Yan Family Temple Stele"