王羲之书法字典：8000多王体，学习书圣 14.0

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Wang Xizhi (303-361, also recorded as 321-379), courtesy name Yishao, was a famous calligrapher of the Eastern Jin Dynasty with the title of "Calligraphy Saint." Originally from Langya (present-day Linyi, Shandong), he later moved to Mountain Yin in Kuaiji (today's Shaoxing, Zhejiang), and in his later years relocated to Jinting in Jian County. He held positions as Privy Secretary, General of Ningyuan, Governor of Jiangzhou, and later as Neishi of Kuaiji, leading the right general. His calligraphy excelled in various styles including clerical, cursive, regular script, and running script. Meticulous in studying structure and posture, he devotedly imitated and pursued excellence by drawing from different styles of his predecessors. Combining all forms into one furnace, he broke free from the Han and Wei writing styles to establish his own unique style that had a profound influence. His style was serene and natural, with graceful and implicit brushwork that was exquisite and elegant. His masterpiece "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" is acclaimed as "the finest running script in the world." In the history of calligraphy, he and his son Wang Xianzhi are jointly known as the "two Wangs."

Calligraphy Style

Wang Xizhi's "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" is revered by calligraphers throughout history as "the finest running script in the world." Wang was proficient in clerical, cursive, regular script, and running scripts. He meticulously studied structure and posture while imitating and pursuing excellence from various sources. Combining all forms into one furnace, he broke free from the Han and Wei writing styles to establish his own unique style with far-reaching influence.

Excerpt of Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion (20 sheets)
Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion Excerpt (20 sheets)

His calligraphy was serene and natural, with graceful and implicit brushwork that was exquisite and elegant. People often quote Cao Zhi's "Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess" to praise Wang Xizhi's calligraphy beauty: "Graceful like a startled swan, elegant like a wandering dragon; it shines like autumn chrysanthemums, lush like spring pines. It seems as if light clouds cover the moon; floating like falling snow." Legend has it that when Wang Xizhi was young, he diligently practiced calligraphy until even the pond water used to clean his brushes turned into ink over time. Posterior generations described his work as "floating like wandering clouds, majestic like startling dragons," "dragons leaping over heaven's gate, tigers reclining on phoenix pavilions," and "[his works have a] natural temperament with exuberant vitality." Sayings associated with him include "hits the mark with three strokes" and "the quick-witted son-in-law from the east bed." A prominent feature of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy is its delicate strokes and varied structures.

Wang Xizhi's calligraphy influenced generation after generation of scholars. The Tang Dynasty included notable calligraphers such as Ouyang Xun, Yu Shinan, Zhu Suiliang, Xue Ji, Yan Zhenqing, Gong Qianqing during Five Dynasties period, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu, Cai Xiang during Song Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu during Yuan Dynasty, Dong Qichang during Ming Dynasty - these renowned calligraphers appreciated Wang Xizhi's work wholeheartedly, earning him the title of "Calligraphy Saint." (Source: Photographic materials [1] [3] [9-12])

Works

Original works by Wang Xizhi are no longer extant; Tang Dynasty's meticulous imitations have always been regarded as genuine works. Due to its ancient origins and long-standing reputation along with other extant works attributed to Wang Xizhi which date back to varying time periods – Song imitations have been suggested, some are speculated to be imitated by Mi Fu with many more attributed to Tang imitations. It has been extensively recorded and repeatedly included in various collections; post-Yuan era public and private collections along with its extensive circulation record are well-documented and reliable which underscores its invaluable nature.