Yan Zhenqing's Thought Of The Benevolence Of Calligraphy And Its Origin

Benevolence is the core content of Confucianism and had ever made great influence on Chinese ancient society. The idea is great Confucius' expectation to society and guidance for people at the time and up-and –coming generation. The full realization of benevolence is the ideal society Confucius expected. Confusious benevolence infiltrated into the field of superior social humanity and morality in ancient times and became the ethics obeyed by people willingly.This paper comes to the topic from Confucius' Benevolence. It is trying to explore the inheritance to Benevolence by Confucius' s direct successor Yan Hui and the following people, such as Yan zhitui, Yan shigu, Yan yuansun and so on. And through this, it expresses the deeply influence not only to Yan Zhenqing's Benevolence but also to the infiltration and even development on his official carrier,circle of friends, scholarship and calligraphy.Yan zhenqing practiced Confucius' s Benevolence during his whole life. This thesis tells the experiences from his political career to his calligraphy. It mainly describes the benevolence reflected from his calligraphy with some kindness deeds during his official career. Through the analysis of benevolence core of <Yan Qinli Monument> regular script works and benevolence experience of cursive handwriting<memory draft of nephew>, we deduce his calligraphy is follow the example of benevolence.Yan zhenqing had a chequered political career. He gave his all to Tang Dynasty till his heart ceased to beat. However, benevolence governed his behavior, which shown completely during his official career. His loyalty and benevolence can be found from whatever he had done for the country and people.The highest level of calligraphy is personality it conveys. The personality of Yan zhenqing is benevolence. The realization of his benevolence ideal was reflected from his calligraphy. His regular script works are grand, magnificent, vigorous and firm,which is consistent with his personality of being tough, honest and frank. This paper lists part of his early-middle-later regular script works and tries to analyze the harmonious benevolence shown together from his personality and calligraphy. Not only his regular script works make great influence to the following generation but also his cursive and semi-cursive script which shows his benevolence more directly. All his cursive script works comes from the bottom of his heart criticizing the existingsituation or expressing his sentiment to serve the country and they are critiques thrusting to the opposite side of benevolence like a dagger. Both the content and the calligraphy show Yan Zhenqing's benevolence profoundly.Combining the time background and calligraphic style, we analyze his calligraphy works including regular script, cursive script, it's easy to find that Yan Zhenqing carried on the tradition while making innovations on calligraphy. The righteousness and dignity reflected from his calligraphy showing its powerfully culture integrating and the development of benevolence.