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| Credit: Baike.com |
Overview
Wang Xizhi, one of the most influential calligrapher of the Jin
Dynasty, recognized by many as the sage of calligraphy (书圣). He served in a series of administrative roles throughout his lifetime, including once as Jiangzhou provincial governor. Inspired by the natural grandness of the environs and under strict tutelage from Lady Wei, his unique calligraphy style departs from the traditional technique employed during the Han-Three Kingdom period, which sparked the flame of calligraphy experimentalism in subsequent eras. His most famous work Lanting Xu (兰亭序), was considered by many as the 'best in the world'. Together with his son Wang Xianzhi 王獻之, they were considered as the 'two kings' of ancient Chinese calligraphy.
Powerful and Bold strokes
Born in the turbulent Three-Kingdoms period to the noble Wang family, he was immediately recognized for his talent in calligraphy at the tender age of 7. Legend narrates an occasion in which the Emperor of Jin desires to head North for ancestorial worship. The young Wang Xizhi was tasked to inscribe this auspicious occasion on a wooden board, and the board would then be sent to the carpenter to carve out the letters. To the carpenter aghast, the strokes was so powerful that the black ink cut deep into the wooden board, without the need for any carving.
Marriage to an aunty 28 years his age
With an unmarried daughter of 44, the anxious Defence Minister Xi Jian discussed with Prime Minister Wang (Xizhi's dad) for a possible marriage proposal to one of Wang's twenty-plus sons, who were all known to be very handsome. PM Wang readily agreed. As Xi's housekeeper strolled Wang's house scouting for possible suitors, he chanced upon the 16 year-old Wang Xizhi, bare-chested and lying on the bed, in stark contrast to his brothers who were strolling in their best clothes. The housekeeper then reported back to Xi, whom the DM said he is looking for this type of unpretentious, carefree person and asked the housekeeper to sent him over. When met, the DM was impressed by the talent and the looks of Xizhi, and the marriage engagement was called forth immediately. Henceforth the saying - 东床快婿
Orchard Pavilion Gathering
Said to be a cultural and poetic event happened in 353 CE, where 42 literati gathered at the Orchid Pavilion (Lanting) on Mount Kuaji just south of Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing in Zhejiang), during the Spring Puriffication Festival, on the third day of the third month, to compose poems and enjoy drinking. The gentlemen engaged in a drinking contest: rice-wine cups were floated down a small winding creek as the men sat along its banks; whenever a cup stopped, the man closest to the cup was required to empty it and write a poem. This was known as "floating goblets" (流觴, liúshāng). In the end, twenty-six of the participants composed thirty-seven poems.
Wang Xizhi, then a reputable calligrapher, was told to write a preface to introduce this event. Caught up by the alcohol consumption, he wrote the in-famous Lanting Xu. He opened the scroll a day after and was surprised by the beautiful, free-flowing strokes, although there are a number of strike-offs and smudges between the lines. He tried to rewrite again for numerous times, but failed to surpass the original copy.
Birth
303–361 - Three Kingdoms - Jin Dynasty period
Works
Cursive Script 草书
Shiqi Tie 十七帖
Chu Yue Tie 初月帖
Xing Rang Tie 行穰帖
Long Bao Tie 龙保帖
Shang Yu Tie上虞帖
Chang Fend Tie 长风帖
XianShi Tie 贤士帖
FeiBai Tie 飞白帖
Ping An Tie 平安帖
Running Script 行书
Yimu Tie 姨母帖
Kuai Xue Shi Qing Tie 快雪时晴帖
SangLuan Tie丧乱帖
LanTing Ji Xu 兰亭集序
Ping An Tie 平安帖
He Ru Tie 何如帖
Feng Ju Tie 奉橘帖
Kong Shi Zhong Tie 孔侍中帖
Han Qie Tie 寒切帖
Yuan Huan Tie 远宦帖
Regular Script 楷书
Huang Ting Jing 黄庭经
Yue Yi Lun 乐毅论
Cao E Bei 曹娥碑
Fu Yijiao Jing 佛遗教经
Xuan Shi Biao (Declarations) 宣示表
Shi Ming Biao 力命表
Hai Shi Tie 还示帖
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