Yang Ningshi (873-954) was born in Huayin, Huazhou (now Huayin, Shaanxi). In the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties, he was the son of Prime Minister, calligrapher and assistant minister Yang She.

He was a scholar, an official secretary lang, and later an official in Liang, Tang, Jin, Han and Five Dynasties. The official was Prince Taibao, known as "Yang". In 954, in the first year of Xiande, Zhou Shizong, Yang Ningshi died at the age of 82 and was posthumously given to Prince Taifu.

Yang Ningshi has always been regarded as an important figure in the history of calligraphy. Song Sijia was deeply influenced by it. His representative works include Jiuhua Tie, Ten Notes of Lu Hong Caotang, Immortal Living Method, etc.

Chinese name: Yang Ningshi.

Alias: Yang, Yang, Yang Taishi

Nationality: Five Dynasties

Ethnic group: Han nationality

Birthplace: Huayin, Huazhou (now Huayin, Shaanxi)

Date of birth: 873

Date of death: 954.

Occupation: Prime Minister, calligrapher

Masterpieces: Jiuhua Tie, Ten Notes of Lu Hong Caotang, Immortal Living Method.

Official position: Prince Taibao

Posthumously: Prince Taifu

outline

Yang Ningshi, a native of Huayin, Huazhou, was born in Du Jing and Bai Xu. Born in Xian Tong, Tang Yizong in 14 years, he died in the first year of Xiande, Zhou Shizong at the age of 82. (The history of the Old Five Dynasties is eighty-five; Chronicles of celebrities died in Xiande for two years at the age of 83. It is rich in literature and algae, which greatly promoted the promotion of Tang Zhaozong in the times. Liang Shi is the foreign minister who took the exam. At the beginning of teaching, Tang Tongguang was granted a doctor's license. During the Jin dynasty, he was an official with the minister of rites, and lived in the middle of Ilo, enjoying his wild escape and resisting many things. A talented person is duty-bound, but when he was in the Han Dynasty, he knew less about Shao Shi. Zhou Xiande was a prince of Taibao at the beginning and died in Luoyang, which was given by Prince Taifu. Be good at poetry and writing. The inscription on the blue wall of Luochuan Temple is almost partial. At that time, people called him Feng Tong because of his vertical birthday.

He first studied calligraphy from Ou Yangxun and Yan Zhenqing, and then from Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi. He changed the Tang method and used a bold pen. Whether it's white cloth or knots, it's refreshing. His representative works include Jiuhua Tie, Ten Postscripts of Lu Hong Caotang, Immortal Living Method, Summer Hot Tie and so on.

Jiuhua Post is his masterpiece and a gift written in lines. The content is about waking up after a nap, which coincides with the gift of leek. It is delicious, so I write to express my gratitude. The font of this post is between running script and regular script. Bai and Shu Lang, handsome and free and easy, won the brushwork of Wang Xizhi's Preface to Lanting Collection. Lu Hong Caotang's Postscript of Ten Notes won the essence of Yan Zhenqing's Sacrifice to a Nephew, which was strewn at random, magnificent, simple and rich. Wild grass's immortal living method and summer hot posts are even more wanton, changeable, messy and twisted, and a sense of sadness about the current situation is vividly on the paper. Among cursive scripts, The Immortal Living Method always contains some running scripts, which were later called "Rain and Snow".

Yang Ningshi has always been regarded as an important figure in the history of calligraphy. Song Sijia (Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fei, Cai Xiang) was deeply influenced by it.

Calligraphy achievement

Yang Ningshi lived in an era when the Tang Dynasty was about to perish, followed by the Five Dynasties War. This talented person is bound to become a freak, and even seek refuge through the illness of a madman, and the calligraphy art he uses to comfort his soul is naturally dignified. His running script expresses his spiritual personality, and it can also be said that this chaotic era he encountered left a mark on his spirit.

Grandmasters Ou Yangxun and Yan Zhenqing lived in seclusion,

Yang Ningshi's works can still be seen on these walls until the Northern Song Dynasty. Huang Tingjian once said: "When I went to the capital and read Yang's books between the monk walls, I was fascinated." (Ma Zonghuo's Notes on Trees and Algae, Volume 8) Unfortunately, buildings cannot be preserved forever, and these wonderful traces of his calligraphy have disappeared with the passage of time. However, there are only four kinds of paper and ink preserved, namely, Jiuhua Post in regular script, Ten Notes on Hongcaotang in running script, Xia Ruo Post in running script, Immortal Living Method in cursive script, and several seal cutting posts such as Walking empty word. Judging from these works, there are regular script, running script and cursive script, and their styles have changed. This change, on the one hand, shows his artistic skill, on the other hand, it is also the natural diarrhea of his pretentious character. The content of these posts is either about fitness, or about love affairs, or about immortal Taoist priests. None of them are serious. Why? The times have changed, and the current events in the world are unspeakable and not worth worrying about, so he has to seek pleasure in the world outside the secular world.

It is said that Yang Ningshi's calligraphy art built a bridge between the peaks of calligraphy art in Tang and Song Dynasties. As far as the development of calligraphy art is concerned, there is the Song Dynasty. As for those who have studied Yang Ningshi since then, there are many people in that generation, but few people can get the essence from it.

Personality assessment

Xue's History of the Old Five Dynasties: Good writing style.

Biography of Tang Poetry: The condensed handwriting was put aside, and Ou Yangxun and Yan Zhenqing studied it to escape.

Li Xitai: The old frost of withered fir, pine smoke and musk coal are rainy and cold. I am also a born nerd. I went to the temple once and watched it again.

Athena Chu: Yang Gong owns a lot of ink, and calligraphers use popular pens, which are free to gallop and cover their own thoughts.

Su Song: Many people in the Tang Dynasty had good handwriting, and it was often perfect. When it comes to the Five Dynasties, the font declined, and only Yang Gong wrote condensed numbers.

Wang Qinruo: The ink is condensed into a piece of paper, which is fantastic, the brushwork is flying and the beauty between heaven and earth is also beautiful. Gong and a word, all called absolutely different. However, Gong Su doesn't like to make a letter, which is rare for future generations, useful and valuable.

Mi Fei: (1) Yang Ningshi is like a cross wind and oblique rain, falling clouds and smoke, dropping eyes quickly. ("Haiyue Book Review") 2 Ning Shu is naive and runs away from class to compete for a post. (History of Books)

Su Shi: ① Since the absence of Liu Yan's family, the brushwork declined, and there was chaos at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the characters degenerated and the literary style was ruined. Yang Gong's style is unique, his calligraphy is outstanding, and there are two kings, Yan Liu. This is really the hero of the book, not lost by the times. The condensed version looks good.

Huang Tingjian: (1) When I went to Luoshi, I read Yang's books all over the monk's wall, which made people wonderful. Therefore, he and Wu Sheng's paintings were the best in Luoshi. (2) Read Yan's book, and you will know that Ou Yu _ Mi Xue entered the room of the right army. Read Yang's book, and you will know that there is dust in Xu Shen. (3) Since the Jin Dynasty, dust removers like Erwang are rare, but Yan Heyang seems to be a great commander in chief, and Uncle Lu is respected by many people today. I want to know more about Yang's book, but it is like a nine-faced horse, which makes it mysterious and yellow. (4) Coagulation is like dispersing monks to become saints. (5) Learn Lanting noodles in the world, if you want to change every bone, there is no elixir. Who knows that Yang Fengzi is in Luoyang, but when he wrote a letter, he went to Lanzhou.

Cai Qi: Yang Fengzi's calligraphy is exquisite and outstanding in the Five Dynasties, which can follow Yan Liu's track. There are many relics in Luo Zhong Temple, and he also wrote a poem of Huayan Courtyard, especially with a pen.

Shao Lu Wen Jian: The condensed form is the beauty of Yan Liu's entry into the second king, and the writing is excellent.

Huang: Luo Ren is a good teacher of calligraphy, and he can be trusted. However, since the Middle Tang Dynasty, the calligraphy of Han and Jin Dynasties has not been handed down. For example, the ancestors of the condensed generation are not far away, and they will review the brushwork of the father and son. It doesn't seem that good. It turns out that Yang has already won, boasting that he is the treasure of the world, and the so-called son is sincere to everyone.

Xuanhe Shupu: He likes to write words in a concise way, which is as strong as Yan Zhenqing's running script. He was naturally a hero in calligraphy at that time.

Zhang Shinan: He is a master of refining, not in time, but in the Tang and Liang Dynasties to save righteousness and stand on his own feet. His chest was enormous, but he avoided the disasters of the five seasons and died.

Zhao Bingwen: Yang advised his father not to treat others with his country. What's the difference between this and Lu Gong's refusal to reprimand Li Xilie from An Lushan? Therefore, although his book inherited the habits of the last five seasons of the Tang Dynasty, it still has a pure atmosphere.

Dong Qichang: Shao Shi's "Leek Sticks" is slightly high in style and elegant in style, which is different from other books in Shao Shi. However, it is a good place in Shao Shi.

The quatrain in Liu Yong's book: I love Yang Qi very much, and I'm still following Xi Tai when it comes out late. Xiangmenhua Group is willing to give up, and the five generations are more perfect.

The last sentence in the book: a leek is heavy _ forest, and the ancient huating is the most enjoyable. Want to see people who sleep during the day, Mai Guangpu writes autumn shadows.

Bao: (1) The scenery is so beautiful that the weapons are well deployed. (2) Luoyang grass potential is divided, and the party is muddy. Dong Lisu's capital is unique. His interest must be in Heyuan. (3) grass shop into the paper, to, but still arrogant, calm and indifferent, is very.

Book _: Su Huang of the Five Dynasties, pushing the scenery alone. However, people who read his books today are particularly prominent, such as Da Xian Tie, which is not unique or powerful, and bones are really hard to find. There is no need to participate in the imitation of face and willow, but the reality in Yan Liu is ready. There is also a cloud. The book machine is based on beauty, but it is not a shirt or a shoe, so it has become a home. However, those who learn to look good are especially good at writing and resisting behavior, and those who don't wear shirts and don't show their faces are also good.

Li Ruiqing: Yang was an important hub from the Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty. The leek flower tied the pen to the paper and also used Lanting method. Swan captured the plain with scenery and turned it into a setback, but he always stayed outside the scope of life.

Kang Youwei: Shao Shi became the face of the right army, but God was complacent and divided it into grass, so it was amazing.

Anecdotes and interesting episodes

Pretend to be crazy and avoid disaster

Huayin (now Huayin, Shaanxi) was born with a stone. He was born in Guisi, so he was named Guisi. It is said that he is a descendant of Su Yang, King of Yue in Sui Dynasty, and his ancestors were all prime ministers in Tang Dynasty.

Yang Ningshi has both spirituality, wisdom and literary accomplishment. His articles were highly praised by people at that time, but his figure was slightly poor and short, which did not affect his admission to Tang Zhaozong Jinshi. After entering Jinshi, he entered the official career, first as a financial officer, that is, an inspector, and then promoted to a doctor.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, his father, Yang, took the official position and became the prime minister, but the situation of governors joining hands made him a very bitter prime minister. Finally, the Tang Dynasty was replaced by Zhu Wen, who handled a thankless task and sent a letter to the emperor of the Tang Dynasty to Zhu Wen. It turned out that when he first became prime minister, he cried to his son, "I'm afraid my children will suffer in this troubled times." Alas! I wonder if it will get you into trouble. "

Yang Ningshi was also very young. Seeing that his father took the reviled job, he said to his father, "Father is the prime minister, but the country has reached this point, and it cannot be said that there is no fault. But you have to give the seal to others to protect your wealth. What will people say about you in a thousand years? Father had better refuse. "

Yang was scared to death because the situation was very critical. In order to prevent the old ministers of the Tang Dynasty from doing things against him, Zhu Wen sent a large number of spies among ministers to collect their remarks. Many people suffer from improper speech, and some people are doomed. Yang lives in fear every day,

When Yang Ningshi saw his father's panic, he realized that he had made a big mistake and shut up. The father didn't eat a good meal for several days for fear that his son's words would spread. He looked depressed all day and sighed. Yang Ningshi was scared, too. If his words are heard and spread to Zhu Wen's ears, it will be difficult for his family to live. Yang Ningshi couldn't think of a better way, so he finally had to pretend to be crazy, just in case. From then on, people called him "crazy Yang".

What the father and son said was not listened to by outsiders. Zhu Wen acceded to the throne, let Yang She continue to be Prime Minister of the Back Beam. Yang Ningshi's "madness" is correct. Because of his father, he also worked in Houliang and became a member of imperial academy and does. Later, King Zhang of Qi took a fancy to his talent and promoted him, and the prime minister appreciated him very much. With the support of Zhao Guangyi, he was promoted to Bachelor of Jixian Hall and Foreign Minister who took the exam.

The clever use of "madness" was put out in the later Tang Dynasty, but Yang Ningshi was not affected. Instead, he became an official and was responsible for drafting the emperor's letters, with great power. But then he became a little "crazy". Maybe he saw that this position was very prominent, but it was easy to anger the emperor and be killed, so he pretended to be crazy to avoid disaster. Just like Meng Zhixiang resigned as an envoy of China, because the former envoys of China were killed for offending the emperor. This madness led him to be transferred to the history museum to take charge of the affairs of the history museum.

When Li Siyuan was in power, Mingzong made him a calligrapher in China. He pretended to be crazy and didn't go to court, let alone take office, so Mingzong had to let him take other positions. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, when Li Congke was in power, Yang Ningshi was appointed assistant minister of the Ministry of War. When Yang Ningshi's "madness" broke out again, Li Congke personally participated in a military parade. He kept shouting, which prevented the military parade from continuing. Li Congke was famous and talented. Many people knew that he was insane, so they didn't punish him and let him go back to Luoyang to have a rest.

After the demise of the late Tang Dynasty and the establishment of the late Jin Dynasty, Yang Ningshi became the guest of honor of the Prince, and later retired as the minister of rites. He lives in Luoyang and has a comfortable life. After leaving the imperial court, he became more free and spoke freely. Besides, he talked too much, and people thought he was "crazy" again, and no one cared about him. Therefore, he likes to criticize anything that happens locally. Local officials didn't blame him because he was brilliant and respected. When Sang Han Wei was in power, Yang Ningshi had retired, had no salary, and lived a little hard. Sang Han Wei heard about the plight of Yang Ningshi, a gifted scholar, and asked the emperor to give him the honorary title of Prince Shaobao, so that he could have a fixed salary to support his family.

Later Jin Dynasty finally perished because of the war with Qidan, and later Han Dynasty was established. He also held official positions in the later Han Dynasty, such as Prince Shaofu and Prince Shao Shi. At the end of the later Han Dynasty, after Guo Wei rose up and entered the city, Prime Minister Yang Ningshi greeted him at the door when he entered the city in Guo Wei. He told Guo Wei that he was too old to do anything. Guo Wei comforted him and did not blame him. But after Guo Wei proclaimed himself emperor, because he didn't contribute to Guo Wei's accession to the throne, he took the opportunity to propose to return to China to be an official, that is, to retire and go home. Guo Wei readily agreed and gave him a prominent right servant status.

Yang Ningshi lived in his hometown for some time, and Guo Wei died of illness. Later, Zhou Shizong Chai Rong succeeded to the throne and ordered Yang Ningshi to return to Korea. Maybe Yang Ningshi got bored after his long seclusion. He accepted the appointment of Sejong, and was promoted to be a left servant shooter, plus the title of Prince Taibao.

From the late Tang Dynasty to the later Zhou Dynasty, it is generally believed that Yang Ningshi experienced five dynasties. Strictly speaking, we should add the Tang Dynasty, that is, six.

Tolerant wit

Yang Ningshi is famous for his madness, and some of his interesting stories are often mentioned after his death. Once he went back to the house by car, he was impatient and said that the horses and chariots were walking too slowly, so he simply got off the bus and walked on crutches. Passers-by pointed at him and laughed, but Yang Ningshi didn't care. One winter came, but my wife and children had no cotton-padded clothes. Instead of caring, he gave a batch of silks sent by a friend not long ago to two temples and made socks for monks to wear. He doesn't care if the children at home scream with cold. Seeing this, the local left-behind officials quickly sent him cotton-padded clothes and grain and rice, and sent them to the famous sergeant's home. Yang Ningshi smiled: "I know they will definitely help us!" "

Yang Ningshi is very easygoing. One morning, he went out to play with his servant. The servant asked where to go. He said to go east to Guang 'ai Temple. The servant said it would be better to go west to Shibi Temple. He raised his whip and said, "Let's go to Guang 'ai Temple." The servant said, "Let's go to Shibi Temple." Yang Ningshi then said, "Let's go to Shibi Temple first." Everyone clapped their hands and cheered.

Not only does Yang Canning pretend to be crazy, but he is better at pretending to be crazy, and his poems and calligraphy are more famous. There are many humorous verses in his poems, which are very interesting. Zhang once promoted him, and he appropriately praised his achievements: "The scenery in Luoyang is really sad. It used to be a pile of tiles. I didn't fix it, it's still a pile of ash. " On another occasion, he returned to Luoyang from Kaifeng and happened to encounter a locust plague. When I arrived in Luoyang, the locusts that covered the sun just arrived in Luoyang at the same time. He first sent a poem from Luoyang to Zhang Yin: "Escort locusts to Luo Jing and meet them far away." Zhang Congen smiled at the poem and didn't blame him.

Yang Ningshi's poetry has another realm, because he believes in Buddhism. He likes visiting temples, and all kinds of scenery can make him feel current events, so his poems are also very refined. For example, "the court is as quiet as Zen, and the flowers are as round as sleep" is very beautiful and famous, and it has always been highly respected.

Although Yang Ningshi's achievements in poetry are very high, there is still a big gap compared with his calligraphy. His calligraphy is vigorous and bold, and he learns from Ou Yangxun and Yan Zhenqing. His own freedom and boldness make his calligraphy art unique. When you visit the temple, you will linger when you meet the beautiful scenery. You can read poems, write when you see the wall, and sing while writing, as if it were as smooth as a god. People carefully protect these walls where he writes poems, which shows that his calligraphy skills have reached a high level. People say that his calligraphy is very similar to that of Yan Zhenqing, so they call him and Yan Zhenqing "Yan Yang".

His handwriting was left on the walls of many temples in Luoyang, and when he finally signed it, he rarely used a name, including your company, Yang, a Buddhist of the Western Wei Dynasty, and an old farmer from Kansai. Sometimes he writes regular script, and sometimes he writes cursive script. He is as casual as others, but his level is very high, so many people say that he is the first calligrapher in the Five Dynasties.

There are many excellent students in Yang Ningshi, and Li Jianzhong wrote a poem praising the teacher's calligraphy: "The withered fir and the old frost, the pine smoke and the musk coal are rainy and cold. I am also a born nerd. I went to the temple once and watched it again. " Feng Dao's son gave Yang Ningshi the highest evaluation: "Shao Qing's original works are all monk's houses, and Yu Zhong is not as good as them. You must cherish it before you can report it to the public. There is no book after this book. "

Yang Ningshi accidentally pretended to be crazy and escaped the disaster. From then on, he took "madness" as his way of life. Five generations later, he died happily. He also achieved his calligraphy art with his wild personality.