"A Letter to my Nephew," or Ji Zhi Wen Gao, by Yan Zhenqing (颜真卿), is a unique piece of calligraphy in that it was not intended to be an artistic masterpiece. Rather, it is a draft of a letter expressing his grief and sorrow at the loss of his nephew. However, this raw and unfiltered expression of emotion is what makes the work so powerful and enduring. Written in a mix of Running Script (xingshu) and Cursive Script (caoshu), Ji Zhi Wen Gao reveals the artist's inner turmoil and his capacity for emotional expression. It is a unique, personal, and emotional piece.
In the vast landscape of Chinese calligraphy, certain works transcend mere artistic skill, resonating with profound human emotion. One such piece is Yan Zhenqing’s Ji Zhi Wen Gao (祭侄文稿), often translated as Draft of a Requiem to My Nephew or Draft of a Memorial to My Nephew. This intensely personal and emotionally charged work is not just a masterpiece of calligraphy but also a poignant testament to grief, loyalty, and the ravages of war.