颜筋柳骨

顏筋柳骨
yánjīn-liǔgǔ
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 Yan's sinew and Liu's bone
  2. 2 powerful, vigorous calligraphy

Examples

HSK 5
Shūfǎ lǎoshī cháng yòng " yánjīn-liǔgǔ " lái shuōmíng Yántǐ hé Liǔtǐ de qūbié.
Calligraphy teachers often use "Yan's sinew, Liu's bone" to explain how the Yan and Liu styles differ.
HSK 7-9
Tā de kǎishū pō yǒu yánjīn-liǔgǔ de wèidao.
His regular script has something of Yan's sinew and Liu's bone.

Tips

history
The phrase goes back to 范仲淹, who used it to praise the brushwork of his friend 石曼卿. 颜真卿's strokes are full and fleshy with strength inside, like sinew; 柳公权's are lean and hard, like bone.

Stroke Order

颜 yán
筋 jīn
柳 liǔ
骨 gǔ