Ryukoken

A Chinese calligrapher from the late Tang Dynasty. His pen name was Chengqian. He was from Huayuan County, Jingzhao (Shaanxi Province). He passed the Jinshi examination at the beginning of the Yuanhe era (806-820), and his handwriting was recognized by Emperor Muzong, who made him a Hanlin scholar of calligraphy. He then served Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong. In his later years, he became the crown prince and taibao, and died at the age of 88. He first studied calligraphy under Wang Xizhi, and then studied widely with Ouyang Xun and Yu Shinan, among others, to form a family, and from middle age onwards, his style became increasingly influenced by Yan Zhenqing's. He is often referred to as "Yan Liu," but he perfected his own style of calligraphy, which was more refined and more muscular than Yan Zhenqing's. He was already famous at the time, and even today his style is often studied as a model for beginners in China. When asked by Emperor Mutoku about his calligraphy, he answered, "The use of the calligraphy is in the heart, and if the heart is right, the calligraphy is right." He is famous for his "words of admonition on calligraphy." His works include the "Xuanbi Tower Stele," the "Shensek Gunki Shentoku Stele," and the "Diamond Prajnaparamita Sutra."

[Shigenori Tsutsui]

"Calligraphy Art 4: Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan" edited by Nakata Yujiro (1971, Chuokoron-Shinsha)" ▽ "Calligraphy Masterpieces Series 134: Xuanbi Pagoda Monument" (1969, Nigensha)" ▽ "Calligraphy Masterpieces Series 187: Divine Measures and Military Chronicles: The Holy Virtue Monument" (1974, Nigensha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、唐代後期の書家。字(あざな)は誠懸。京兆(けいちょう)華原県（陝西(せんせい)省）の人。元和（806～820）の初めに進士に及第し、穆(ぼく)宗に筆跡を認められて翰林(かんりん)侍書学士となり、ついで敬宗、文宗に仕えた。晩年には太子太保にまで至り、88歳で没した。書は初めは王羲之(おうぎし)を学び、さらに欧陽詢(おうようじゅん)や虞世南(ぐせいなん)などを広く学んで一家をなし、中年以降は顔真卿(がんしんけい)の書風がしだいに強くなった。よく「顔柳」と並称されるが、顔真卿よりも端正で骨ばった独自の書風を完成した。当時すでに名をなしていたが、現在でも中国では初学の手本としてよく習われている。穆宗に筆法を問われて、「用筆は心に在(あ)り、心正しければ筆正し」と答えたいわゆる「筆諫(ひっかん)の言」は有名である。『玄秘塔碑』『神策軍紀聖徳碑』『金剛般若(はんにゃ)経』などの作品がある。

［筒井茂徳］

『中田勇次郎編『書道芸術4　顔真卿・柳公権』（1971・中央公論社）』▽『『書跡名品叢刊134　玄秘塔碑』（1969・二玄社）』▽『『書跡名品叢刊187　神策軍紀聖徳碑』（1974・二玄社）』

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