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The first original by Yan Zhenqing unearthed in Shaanxi wrote an epitaph for a woman at the age of 38.
The size is 51.4 × 51.4 cm, and the signature date is the fifth year of Tianbao, written by Yan Zhenqing when he was 38 years old.
On November 13, the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology published the first epitaph of Yan Zhenqing Shudan unearthed from archaeological excavations. The writing in the epitaph is Yan Zhenqing’s early calligraphy, written by him at the age of 38. At this stage, he learned from others and learned from Chu Suiliang and others. It is in the style of the early Tang dynasty and is relatively delicate in writing.
The epitaph is of great importance for the study of Yan Zhenqing’s early calligraphy style and the art of Chinese calligraphy in the Middle Ages.
Unearthed at the Yuan Family Tomb in Shengtang
In the summer of 2020, the archaeological team of Xianyang City, the capital of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology, carried out archaeological excavations at more than 100 Han and Tang tombs found on the Qin and Han government reserve lands. New City in Shaanxi. According to the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology, a large number of tombs from the Sui and Tang dynasties were cleared during the excavation. Among them, 3 Yuan family tombs were confirmed, including Yuan Daqian and Luo Wanshun’s joint tombs, Yuanbuqi’s tomb, and Yuanzhijue’s tomb.
These tombs were severely robbed in the early days, fortunately the epitaphs have been preserved. It is speculated that it may be an early robbery, but at the time not much attention was paid to the epitaph.
Among them, the epitaph of Luo Wanshun, Yuan Daqian’s wife, was written by Yan Zhenqing, who claimed to be “Changan County Lieutenant” in the article. Luo Wanshun died in April of the fifth year of Tianbao (746 AD) and was buried with her husband in March of the sixth year of Tianbao (747 AD). According to Yan Zhenqing’s chronology, in the five years of Tianbao, Yan Zhenqing was promoted from Lieutenant of Liquan County to Lieutenant of Chang’an County, which is consistent with historical records.
The Luo Wanshun Epitaph written by Yan Zhenqing (partial) Photo courtesy of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology
The size of the “Epitaph of Luo Wanshun” is 51.4 × 51.4 cm, with flowers and decorative plants around the cover, 16 characters in stamp script, 728 characters in normal script, 27 lines, 28 characters in line complete.
The joint tomb of Yuan Daqian and Luo Wanshun is a five-yard pit. There are niches on both sides of the fifth cave. The tomb is 35.8 meters long and 9.5 meters deep. There is a brick coffin bed to one side of the grave, and there is burial equipment and the bones of the owner of the grave. In addition to the epitaphs, 113 pieces (groups) of copper coins, ceramic lamps, tower vessels, and ceramic figurines were unearthed.
The Yuanbuqi Tomb has two courtyards, with a total length of 13.8 meters and a depth of 6.6 meters. The only wooden coffin is seriously disturbed by the bones of the owner of the tomb. Besides the epitaph, there are 24 pieces (groups) of copper coins, clay pots, ceramic figurines and ceramic animal figurines. Yuan Zhijue’s tomb is shaped similar to the tomb of Yuan Daqian and his wife, with a total length of 31.4 meters and a depth of 9.6 meters. There are niches on both sides of the fourth and fifth holes. The bed of the brick coffin is also seen in the tomb. In addition to the epitaph, there are 108 pieces (groups) of bronze mirrors, bronze bowls, copper coins, silver buckles, tall silver cups, porcelain jugs, ceramic figurines, and ceramic animal figurines.
Ceramic animal figurines unearthed from Yuan Zhijue’s tomb Photo courtesy of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology
Why did Yan Zhenqing write the epitaph?
According to the content of the epitaph, Yuan Daqian is a descendant of Emperor Zhaocheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty and a seventh-generation grandson of the King of Changshan. He died in the sixth year of Kaiyuan (718 AD). Luo Wanshun, whose last name was Chiluo, was from Xianbei, and was changed to Luo during Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. He died in Tianbao five years (746 AD), Tianbao six years (747 AD) moved to Yufujun Jiuying.
Yuanbuqi was the third son of Yuan Daqian, a student at Yinbu Guozijian University (Taiwan), he was not married and died in Kaiyuan 24 year (736 AD).
Yuan consciously was Yuan Daqian’s nephew, his father Yuan Da’s resume was Ren Junzhou Sicang joined the army, guerrilla general, Zuo Guoyi captain of Youwei’s Lantian mansion, Zuo Jinwu captain Zuo Guoyi of Yiyang mansion, doctor of Chao San, the governor of Fengzhou, the governor of Shaanxi, and the governor of Youzhou, the young master of the prince. I was successively director-in-chief of Yuxiang County, Puzhou, commander of the Cao Cao prefecture right guard, guerrilla general, and head of the Zuo Siwei. He died in Kaiyuan 17 (AD 729).
It is worth mentioning that Yuan Dajian’s daughter married Emperor Li Xian of Tang Rang as a concubine (son of Tang Ruizong Li Dan, brother of Tang Xuanzong Li Longji). Zhang Yang Lizheng, a member of the Xianyang City Archaeological Team of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology, said the close relationship with the Tang Dynasty imperial family may explain why the Yuan family can enjoy high-level treatment of the five yards beyond grade.
The authors of the epitaph for Yuan Daqian and Yuan Zhijue were the son of Emperor Li Xian and the King of Ruyang County, Li Jing. In the text, Li Jing claimed to be his great-nephew and nephew. Combined with the epitaph, it can be seen that Li Jin’s mother is the sister of Yuan Zhijue, Li Xian’s concubine.
In the “Epitaph of Luo Wanshun” written by Li Jing and written by Yan Zhenqing, Yan Zhenqing called himself “Lieutenant of Chang’an County” and the epitaph was signed in Tianbao for five years. According to Yan Zhenqing’s chronology, in Tianbao’s fifth year (746 years), Yan Zhenqing was recommended to be promoted from Liquan County Lieutenant to Chang’an County Lieutenant, which is the year he was just promoted. to Chang’an County Lieutenant, and wrote this epitaph.
Why did Yan Zhenqing write the Luo Wanshun epitaph? Zhang Yang Lizheng speculated that it could be because of Li Qin, who had a good relationship with many literary figures at the time, and perhaps because of this, he befriended Yan Zhenqing and invited Qi Dan’s epitaph.
What is the value of the early discovery of authentic works by Yan Zhenqing?
At present, the authentic works of Yan Zhenqing in the country are dominated by inscriptions, and there are only more than ten physical stelae. The Shaanxi Stelae Provincial Forest Museum contains 7 monuments of Yan Zhenqing, namely Duobao Pagoda Stele (44 years old), Guo Family Temple Stele (56 years old), Seat Competition (56 years old ), the Zang Huaike stele (60-63 years) and the temple of the Yan family. Monument (72 years old), Ma Lin Xinmiao Monument (71 years old), Yan Qinli Monument (71 years old).
These inscriptions are basically ancient works. Among them, the “Duobao Pagoda Stele” and “Yan Qin Li Stele” are national first-class protected cultural relics.
Yan Zhenqing (709-784 AD), minister of the Qing dynasty, was born in Jingzhaowannian (present-day Xi’an, Shaanxi), and his ancestral home was Langya Linyi (now Linyi, Shandong). He was a famous official and calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. In the twenty-second year of Kaiyuan (734 years), Yan Zhenqing was in the rank and won the first degree, successively serving as a supervising officer and a servant in the palace. Later, for offending Yang Guozhong, he was demoted to prefect of Pingyuan, known as “Yan Pingyuan”.
During the Anshi rebellion, Yan Zhenqing led the rebels against the rebels and received the title of Shangshu from the Constitutional Ministry, the Shangshu from the Constitutional Department, the Shangshu from later officials, the Crown Prince and Crown Prince of Lu, also known like “Yan Lu Gong”. In the first year of Xingyuan (784), he was hanged by the rebel general Li Xilie, and received the posthumous title of “Wenzhong” as Situ.
The “Yan Ti” style that Yan Zhenqing pioneered has undergone a gradual formation process. Writing “Luo Wanshun Epitaph”, 38-year-old Yan Zhenqing was still in the early stage of style formation. At this stage, he learned from Chu Suiliang and others. He is in the style of the early Tang Dynasty and writes relatively delicately. After the age of forty or fifty, Yan Zhenqing “is nothing but charming and unique”, pursuing a cheerful and upright writing style, implicit and full of power.
“Luo Wanshun Epitaph” shows the early calligraphy style of Yan Zhenqing. Previously, the first Yan Zhenqing calligraphy unearthed in China was the epitaph of Wang Lin unearthed in Luoyang, Henan. It was written in Kaiyuan 29th year (741) when Yan Zhenqing was 33 years old. This epitaph is not found in scientific archeology. The epitaph is engraved with cloud patterns on all four sides and there are figures from “The Twenty Nine Years of Kaiyuan” on the bottom side. The author is the husband of Wang Lin and Xu Qiao, the governor of Runzhou.
In October 1997, a brick factory in Yanshi, Henan, found a Tang tomb while digging up dirt. In the hallway an epitaph “The Epitaph of Guo Xuji” was found, written by Yan Zhenqing when he was 41 years old for Guo Xuji, the official book of the Ministry of Industry. This epitaph has a tight structure and strong outlines, which is consistent with the “Duobao Pagoda Tablet”. (Reporter Ni Wei)
