Yan Zhenqing unearthed in Shaanxi, 38 years old, writing an epitaph for a woman
The size is 51.4×51.4 cm, and the date of signature is the fifth year of Tianbao, written by Yan Zhenqing when she was 38 years old
Yesterday, the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology released 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. He has the style of the early Tang Dynasty and is relatively delicate in writing.
The epitaph is of great significance to the study of Yan Zhenqing's early calligraphy style and the calligraphy art of my country in the Middle Ages.
Unearthed in the tomb of the Yuan family in the Sheng Tang
In the summer of 2020, the archaeological team of Xianyang City, the capital of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, carried out archaeological excavations on more than a hundred Han and Tang tombs discovered in the government reserve land of the Qin and Han New City in Shaanxi.
According to the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, a large number of tombs from the Sui and Tang dynasties were cleared during the excavation process. Among them, three tombs of the Yuan family were confirmed, including the joint tombs of Yuan Daqian and Luo Wanshun, the Yuanbuqi tomb and the Yuanzhijue tomb.
These tombs were severely robbed in the early days. Fortunately, the epitaph has been preserved.
It is speculated that it may be an early burglary, and the epitaph was not paid much attention at that time.
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 in the fifth year of Tianbao (746 AD) and was buried with her husband in March in the sixth year of Tianbao (747 AD).
According to Yan Zhenqing's chronology, in the five years of Tianbao, Yan Zhenqing was promoted from Liquan county lieutenant to Chang'an county lieutenant, which is consistent with historical records.
The size of "Luo Wanshun Epitaph" is 51.4×51.4 cm, with decorative flowers and plants around the cover, 16 characters in seal script, 728 characters in regular script, 27 lines, 28 characters in full line.
The tomb of Yuan Daqian and Luo Wanshun is a five-yard well. 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 on one side of the tomb chamber, and there is no burial equipment and the bones of the tomb owner.
In addition to the epitaphs, 113 pieces (groups) of copper coins, pottery lamps, tower jars, and pottery 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 single wooden coffin is seriously disturbed by the bones of the tomb owner.
In addition to the epitaph, there are 24 pieces (groups) of copper coins, clay pots, pottery figurines, and pottery animal figurines.
The tomb of Yuan Zhijue is similar in shape 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 4th and 5th holes.
The brick coffin bed is also seen in the tomb.
In addition to the epitaph, there are 108 pieces (groups) of bronze mirrors, bronze basins, copper coins, silver buckles, tall silver cups, porcelain jars, pottery figurines, and pottery animal figurines.
Why did Yan Zhenqing write the epitaph?
According to the content of the epitaph, Yuan Daqian is the descendant of Emperor Zhaocheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty and the seventh-generation grandson of the King of Changshan. He has served as the military governor of Yaozhou to join the army, Longzhou Sicang joined the army, Youxiaowei Changshi, Jiangzhou Longmen county magistrate.
Died in the sixth year of Kaiyuan (718 AD).
Luo Wanshun, whose surname was Chiluo, was from Xianbei, and was changed to Luo surname during Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Died in Tianbao five years (AD 746), Tianbao six years (AD 747) moved to Yufujun Jiuying.
Yuanbuqi was the third son of Yuan Daqian, a student of Yinbu Guozijian University (Taiwan). He was not married and died in the 24th year of Kaiyuan (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 Lantian Mansion, Zuo Jinwu captain Zuo Guoyi of Yiyang Mansion, Chaosan doctor, The governor of Fengzhou, the governor of Shaanxi, and the governor of Youzhou, the prince's young teacher.
I served as the head of Yuxiang County in Puzhou, the commander of Youwei, the guerrilla general, and the leader of Zuo Siwei. He died in the 17th year of Kaiyuan (729 AD).
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 archaeological team of Xianyang City, the capital of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, said that the close relationship with the Tang Dynasty royal family may explain why the Yuan family can enjoy the high-level treatment of the five courtyards beyond the grade.
The authors of the epitaph of Yuan Daqian and Yuan Zhijue were both the son of Emperor Li Xian and the king of Ruyang County, Li Jing. In the text, Li Jing claimed to be his grand-nephew and nephew.
Combined with the epitaph, it can be seen that Li Jing's mother is Yuan Zhijue's sister, Li Xian's concubine.
In the "Luo Wanshun Epitaph" written by Li Jing and written by Yan Zhenqing, Yan Zhenqing called himself "Chang'an County Lieutenant", and the epitaph was signed in Tianbao five years.
According to Yan Zhenqing's chronology, in the fifth year of Tianbao (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 epitaph for Luo Wanshun?
Zhang Yang Lizheng speculated that it might be because of Li Qin, who had a good relationship with many literary figures at that time, and perhaps because of this, he made friends with Yan Zhenqing and invited Qi Dan's epitaph.
What is the value of Yan Zhenqing's early discovery of authentic works?
At present, the authentic works of Yan Zhenqing in the country are mainly inscriptions, and there are only more than ten physical steles.
The Shaanxi Provincial Forest of Steles Museum contains 7 monuments of Yan Zhenqing, namely, the Duobao Pagoda Stele (44 years old), the Guo Family Temple Stele (56 years old), the Seat Competition (56 years old), the Zang Huai Ke Stele (60-63 years old), and the Yan Family Temple Stele (72 years old), Ma Lin Xinmiao Stele (71 years old), Yan Qinli Stele (71 years old).
These inscriptions are basically old works.
Among them, "Duobao Pagoda Stele" and "Yan Qin Li Stele" are national first-class protected cultural relics.
Yan Zhenqing (709-784 AD), a courtier of 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 grade, and successively served as a supervisory official and a servant at the palace.
Later, because of offending Yang Guozhong, he was demoted to Pingyuan prefect, known as "Yan Pingyuan".
During the Anshi Rebellion, Yan Zhenqing led the rebels against the rebels and was awarded the title of Shangshu of the Constitutional Department, the Shangshu of the Constitutional Department, the Shangshu of the Later Officials to the Officials, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince of Lu, also known as "Yan Lu Gong".
In the first year of Xingyuan (784), he was hanged by the rebel general Li Xilie and was given the posthumous title of "Wenzhong" as Situ.
The "Yan Ti" style of calligraphy initiated by Yan Zhenqing has undergone a process of gradual formation.
When 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 had the style of the early Tang Dynasty and wrote relatively delicately.
After the age of forty or fifty, Yan Zhenqing "extremely charming and uniquely old-fashioned", pursues a sunny and upright book style, implicit and full of power.
"Luo Wanshun Epitaph" shows Yan Zhenqing's early calligraphy style.
Previously, the earliest calligraphy of Yan Zhenqing unearthed in China was the epitaph of Wang Lin unearthed in Luoyang, Henan. It was written in the 29th year of Kaiyuan (741) when Yan Zhenqing was 33 years old.
This epitaph is not unearthed by scientific archaeology.
The epitaph is engraved with cloud patterns on the four sides, and there are figures of "The Twenty-Nine Years of Kaiyuan" on the lower 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 taking soil. An epitaph "Guo Xuji's Epitaph" was found in the corridor, which was 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 strokes, which is consistent with "Duobao Pagoda Tablet".
Beijing News reporter Ni Wei