Tang calligrapher’s work found at tomb

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The early work of an iconic calligraphy master, Yan Zhenqing of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), was found for the first time in an archaeological excavation, the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology said on Nov 13.

An epitaph from an unearthed tomb in the Xixian New Area, on Xi’an’s outskirts, was written by Yan, according to the name inscribed on the stele.

Yan is considered to have been one of the most important calligraphers in Chinese fine art history. His regular script, commonly known as Yan Script, attracted many imitators in later times. “It is consistent with the timeline of Yan’s life in historical recordings,” said Xu Weihong, a researcher with the institute and leading archaeologist on the site. “We can thus have a better understanding of him and his calligraphic works.”

LI TAO / FOR CHINA DAILY Workers sort packages amid booming online sales generated by the Singles Day shopping event on Nov 11 at the China Post Group Corp branch in Nanchong, Sichuan province.