Yan Zhenqing learns calligraphy

Yan Zhenqing was a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. To learn calligraphy, Yan Zhenqing first learned from Chu Suiliang and later worshipped under Zhang Xu. Zhang Xu was the foremost calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. He can write in various fonts and is especially good at the cursive script. Yan Zhenqing hopes that under the guidance of this famous teacher, he will quickly learn the tricks of writing and become famous in one fell swoop. But after the apprenticeship, Zhang Xu did not reveal any secrets of calligraphy. He just introduced some famous copybooks to Yan Zhenqing, and simply pointed out the characteristics of the copybooks and asked Yan Zhenqing to copy them. Sometimes, he took Yan Zhenqing to climb mountains, to swim, to go to fairs, to watch theaters, and when he returned home, he asked Yan Zhenqing to practice calligraphy or watch him write calligraphy.

A few months passed in a blink of an eye. Yan Zhenqing couldn't get the teacher's calligraphy secrets and be very anxious. He decided to ask the teacher directly.

One day, Yan Zhenqing had the courage and blushed and said: "Students have something to ask for, please teach the secret of calligraphy."

Zhang Xu replied: "To learn calligraphy, one must be engineering, that is, diligence and practice; the second one is comprehension, that is, to receive inspiration from nature. Haven't I told you this many times?"

Yan Zhenqing heard this, thinking that the teacher would not teach the secret, and stepping forward, Shili pleaded: "I know all the truths that the teacher said about engineering and comprehension. What I need most now is how do you write the calligraphy? The secret recipe of the trick, please teach me."

Zhang Xu still patiently enlightened Yan Zhenqing: "I saw the princess fighting for the road to observe the meaning of the brushwork. When I saw Gongsun Auntie dancing the sword, I got the charm of the pen. Apart from hard practice, I observe nature. I have no tricks."

Then he told Yan Zhenqing the story of calligraphy practice by Wang Xianzhi, the sage of the Jin Dynasty, and finally said seriously: "If there is a secret in learning calligraphy, it is hard work. Remember, people who don’t work hard. , There will be no achievements."

Yan Zhenqing was greatly inspired by the teacher's teachings, and he truly understood the way to learn. From then on, he studied hard and practiced hard, devoted himself to studying, comprehending the charm of brush strokes from life, made rapid progress, and eventually became a great calligrapher.