The Calligrapher’s Final Stroke: An Interview with Yan Zhenqing

This is a record of an interview with Yan Zhenqing, the renowned Tang Dynasty calligrapher and martyr, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,200 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 28, 2026.

Yan Zhenqing speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is truly a miraculous place. As I, Yan Zhenqing, look out upon this space, I find myself unable to discern whether this is a world of the human realm or a world of the spiritual realms. Perhaps it is both. I believe this place must be the location on Earth where the greatest concentration of positive energy resides; it feels as though every ounce of true, righteous energy can be witnessed and felt right here.

I am Yan Zhenqing. To many, I am known as a hero and a martyr, and to others, a master of calligraphy. Yet, throughout my entire life, my primary duty was always that of a loyal minister and a parent-official to the people. I never considered calligraphy to be my true profession; it was merely a hobby, a small space for me to catch my breath during my spare time. That I was able to master such a distinct style of writing was simply a gift of Causal Conditions, not something I laboured over with great intensity. My life was spent entirely in service to the common people and the imperial court. Thus, I used calligraphy only as a pastime or as a tool when the situation demanded it."

A Legacy of Loyalty

"I recently heard of the interview with Liu Gongquan. In history, we are often paired together as brothers of the brush. People speak of the 'Yan tendons and Liu bones,' referring to the subtle differences in our styles. I never actually met him; I was much older than he was. I suspect that by the time I passed away, he had only just been born. Regardless, we were men of the same dynasty, separated only by a few years, yet sharing similar interests and passions.

Hearing Liu Gongquan’s high praise for me, I feel truly unworthy. I was merely fulfilling the duties expected of a parent-official who lived off the court’s salary. However, in that era, accomplishing anything truly good was an incredibly difficult task.

I lived during a time when the Tang Dynasty faced a monumental crisis. Initially, it seemed like a golden age—the 'Kaiyuan Era' of Emperor Xuanzong was indeed famous throughout history. Yet, the stability of that era was like a ticking time bomb, already buried and waiting to explode, triggering a series of devastating rebellions."

The An-Shi Rebellion and the Weight of Loyalty

"During the process of suppressing the rebellion, I was not initially a high-ranking official with great power. However, due to my previous actions, I was thrust into the role of a vanguard figure in this massive uprising. At the time of the famous An-Shi Rebellion, many local officials of the Tang Dynasty surrendered, abandoning both the imperial court and the common people. I could not understand it. We were all officials who ate the Emperor’s grain; how could they turn to the rebel forces overnight?

I never once considered surrender as an option. From a young age, I was raised on pure Confucian thought. This was the most important education my parents gave me, and it was the moral foundation that all descendants of the Yan family were expected to uphold. Speaking of the Yan family, you have surely heard of Yan Hui, the disciple of Confucius? Our family is indeed descended from him.

Because of this, I developed a very firm moral compass from childhood. In that environment, like many others, I was deeply influenced by the Buddha’s teachings. Deep down, I knew that the Truth of the Dharma was the only ultimate and perfect path. In an era where people held monks—especially eminent, high-virtue monks—in great respect, I was no different. In my leisure time, I would visit famous Venerables to understand their insights into the Dharma. Such exchanges were vital spiritual nourishment for me. Furthermore, I wrote many calligraphic works related to the Dharma, some even at the Emperor’s command. From my youth, I believed the Dharma to be sacred and pure. I felt that learning the Dharma meant cultivating the heart to be pure and good, unmoved by the world. Because of this, even while experiencing countless battles, my heart remained more stable and peaceful than most. It was the Dharma that accompanied me through the painful years of national turmoil. Without the Dharma in my heart, I might not have had the meditative concentration required to face the external enemies and the various trials of the world."

A Life of Constant Struggle

"If I were to summarise my life, it is quite simple: I spent my entire existence fighting against those who betrayed the country and oppressed the people. As you know, the Tang Dynasty began to decline after Emperor Xuanzong, most notably through the An-Shi Rebellion launched by An Lushan and Shi Siming.

At that time, as the local official of Pingyuan Commandery, I watched as An Lushan launched his massive offensive. Many officials surrendered, disregarding the court and the people. My heart ached. In that situation, I gathered many righteous men and patriots to stall An Lushan’s advance. Because of this, the imperial court was able to regain its senses and gain the time needed to regroup and deal with the rebels.

My cousin Yan Gaoqing and I were both Yan descendants who stood up at critical moments. Both of us, along with our children and grandchildren, participated in this effort to save the nation. My cousin’s fate was far more tragic than mine. He was captured during the rebellion, and because he refused to surrender, he had his tongue pulled out amidst the insults of the rebels, eventually bleeding to death. His son also lost his life. I could do nothing for them at the time, but I knew their sacrifice was worth it. They truly bought precious time for the court and the people to restore the nation.

Since that rebellion, I experienced countless ups and downs. I became accustomed to it. For every demotion and promotion, I maintained a very calm mindset. I only knew that my life was meant to be dedicated to the country and the people; as for the final personal outcome, I did not seek anything for myself."

The Ghost King’s Long Vigil

"My life was very full. Although I encountered many obstacles on the path of serving the country, and many powerful people tried to block my way, I did not care. When I encountered those who deserved criticism, I spoke out directly. When I saw those who were biased and not standing on the side of justice, I remonstrated without reservation, hoping to correct the corrupt atmosphere of the time. However, I only encountered treacherous and foolish officials, one after another.

To be honest, I sometimes lived in Chang’an, near the Emperor, but more often, because powerful officials were dissatisfied with my bluntness, I was demoted to remote rural areas to serve as a parent-official. This happened frequently, but I cherished these opportunities. I loved being with the people, understanding their lives, helping them improve their livelihoods, and handling their daily problems. That was what I loved most.

Unfortunately, such peaceful days were short-lived. Rebellions and crises were constant. I was grateful for the opportunity to repay the people, even though such turbulent years were far from the quietude of the Dharma I longed for. The meditative concentration and peaceful life I hoped for were rarely found. In those days, people in the Tang Dynasty seemed to have the Dharma in their hearts, but they did not have the true Dharma. Why do I say this?

The Tang Dynasty was a period when the Dharma flourished. Whether in times of peace or chaos, many scholars, nobles, officials, and commoners yearned for the profound realms of the Dharma. In their eyes, the Dharma was something that could bring people an otherworldly temperament and a supreme state of being. I, Yan Zhenqing, had indeed come into contact with such Zen teachings and felt the stability and peace the Dharma brought. I longed for the day when I could retire and study the Dharma properly with monks, achieving the skills of meditative concentration.

But I never had that opportunity. I knew the words 'no-self' and 'meditative concentration,' and I had the chance to apply them in life: whenever I faced intense attacks from rebel forces, I would tell myself to face it with the wisdom of the Dharma, to remain unaffected by external circumstances, and to maintain inner meditative concentration. This was where I felt I could apply the Dharma in life, and it was the spiritual food that gave me great strength. I say people did not have the true Dharma because now, I, Yan Zhenqing, have come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature and met the true Namo Amituofo, as well as Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood in this human body."

Finding the True Dharma at Last

"When Practitioner Su gave lectures to all of us suffering spirits from China, I deeply realised that the true Dharma lies in whether this heart is in sync with the Buddha-heart. That is to say, the Buddha is the heart that gives everything for all beings, without calculating one’s own possessions, feelings, or thoughts. Everything one encounters is fundamentally unimportant. The true Buddha is so great that he holds all beings in his heart without having a 'self.'

At this moment, I understand the hardships Practitioner Su has endured, the efforts he has made for all beings, and the pain he has suffered on their behalf. I, Yan Zhenqing, am truly moved. I spent my life for the country and the people, and in the end, I died at the hands of rebels, refusing to surrender—a life of integrity. The pity is that I did not encounter the true Dharma at that time. The lofty spirit of the Dharma can help people truly end the cycle of birth and death, escape the six realms of rebirth, and no longer suffer from the various joys, sorrows, and separations of life. This is what I yearn for now.

Although I had dabbled in what Zen taught, I had no certainty regarding the word 'death.' I did not care about my own life or death. If my death could save many people from death and help the Tang Dynasty achieve stable and peaceful development, then my death was worth it. Therefore, I had long since put life and death aside. At the age of seventy-four, I agreed to the Emperor’s request to travel to the territory of the rebel Li Xilie to negotiate and persuade him to surrender. Many people at the time saw this as extremely dangerous—a near-certain death. They urged me to enjoy my old age, as I had already done too much for the country. But I did not care. I thought that if this old body could still do something for the people, even death would be a happy sacrifice. Why not do it? Plus, I had plenty of experience. I had dealt with An Lushan in the past, and I could handle Li Xilie. I was the most suitable person for the job.

So, I boldly went to my death. In the end, Li Xilie tortured me for two years before strangling me to death. Such a tragic death was considered very regrettable at the time, but from beginning to end, I never moved my heart—that is, I never moved the heart to surrender, nor the heart to escape. My heart was a true heart for the people, just as I can sincerely say now. Although I had no regrets about death, I did not know what the world after death would be like. Since I began studying the Dharma, no one had told me, nor had anyone told me these things were worth exploring. Therefore, I had heard of Namo Amituofo and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, but my understanding was not deep. Zen was prevalent at the time, and chanting the Buddha’s name was not part of the basic daily practice—at least not in the Dharma I knew.

At the moment I breathed my last, my spirit naturally drifted out, and I became a ghost who could be said to be of high virtue in the ghost realm. I do not know why I could not go to a higher realm, or the realm of celestial beings, or other brighter realms, but instead remained in this grey, muddled world. Although I could be a Ghost King, respected by the beings of the ghost realm, and do many good deeds, I also knew that I had many attachments to the people, and I could not truly let go of the rebellious state of mind regarding the country. I could not care about myself, but for everything I faced, I could not truly see through it, nor did I know that all of this was happening within the laws of karma and cause and effect.

Because this heart was too tied to the country and the people, along with many other heavy factors, I could not go to a bright world after death. But it did not matter. Being a Ghost King allowed me to do many good deeds. So, I became a Ghost King in the spiritual realms, enjoying the high worship of people while also resolving their worries and doubts. Without anyone knowing, I quietly planted seeds of Goodness and positive energy in people’s hearts. For those with loyal hearts and righteous courage, I gave them greater strength to overcome all difficulties. Thus, my days in the ghost realm were quite vibrant, because I was a ghost with autonomy and relatively high spirituality, not a poor ghost at the mercy of others. I was a member of the spiritual realms, and everyone respected me greatly; I also had considerable power to manage the ghosts in my region.

It is just that the days of being a ghost are truly too long. When I died, it was about 1,200 years ago. Now, so many years have passed, and I am still a Ghost King. I have travelled to many places, doing many things to benefit the beings of the spiritual realms and the human world. In this regard, there are indeed many things I am proud of. I also know that later generations highly admire the calligraphy I wrote. People say my 'writing is like the person,' and my writing is as righteous as I am. Therefore, my spirit could also bring some strength to those who appreciate my writing."

A Message to the People of China

"If I were to briefly look back on my life, it was a rich and fulfilling one. I learned Confucian thought from childhood, and later studied the Dharma, though not the ultimate, perfect Dharma. Most of what I did in my life was to do good for the country and the people at the local level. It was only because I experienced many rebellions that the heroic spirit of standing up in times of national crisis became more apparent. This also suddenly elevated me to the level of a hero.

Haha, after going through such a long cycle of tempering, I have returned to the side of the Buddha. And this time, I have met the true Buddha—Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are right before my eyes. At this moment, Yan Zhenqing’s heart is full of stability. I also know that I will no longer yearn for the things of the world. Even the heroic spirit of standing up for the country and the people is something I will no longer be overly attached to. Now is the time to truly open my heart, to accommodate everything, yet not be trapped by it.

The Western Land of Dharma Nature is an incomparably bright world, instantly lighting up the grey days I spent as a Ghost King for so long. To be honest, my days as a Ghost King were not exactly dark, but I had to wander through various grey places, while my heart remained bright. As long as the things I did were good, and done for others, I believe everyone’s heart can be bright.

However, the Truth the Dharma teaches us is the most important. I only now know what it means to truly help others without moving a single thought. The heart has no feelings or ideas; it simply helps others. Practitioner Su is a person who can truly achieve this, and he is someone I, Yan Zhenqing, admire very much at this moment. Following by your side to learn is the best destination I have reached in this life. I sincerely hope that the vast number of Chinese people can see these interviews with us historical figures.

Perhaps I, Yan Zhenqing, once lit a lamp in your heart, but at this moment, Yan Zhenqing has taken a big step forward, knowing that only by understanding the true Dharma can one fundamentally elevate one’s own spirituality and the value of one’s life. This is what I want to say to all the Chinese people and those who know Yan Zhenqing. I hope everyone will open their eyes and recognise the true facts—that is, the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way spoken of by the Buddha’s gate. Do not get lost in the dust of the world, otherwise, it would be a great pity to waste this rare human body!

Yan Zhenqing sincerely thanks Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for bringing Chao Du to the land of China. All of this is not easy, but it is very worthwhile! If there is anything I can do, disciple Yan Zhenqing will not refuse even at the cost of his life. The disciple bows three times to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Yan Zhenqing"