For thousands of years, the Preface to the Lanting Pavilion has been regarded as the first book in China by the calligraphy circle, and there are many versions circulating in the world. The most respected one is the Preface to the Lanting Pavilion by Feng Chengsu in the Palace Museum. However, according to the authoritative expert Mr. Wang Kairu's textual research, the Preface to the Lanting Pavilion, now in the Tianyi Pavilion Museum, is an original copy of Wang Xizhi by Feng Chengsu during the Zhenguan period in the Tang Dynasty. Confirmation is a real "dragon book", which shows the calligraphy charm of a generation of calligraphers and can be called the national treasure of calligraphy. Preface to Lanting Collection entered the Song Palace from the Tang Palace and spread to Xumayang Town, Song Lizong. In the Yuan Dynasty, the Yang family was sold to Guo Tianxi, and in the Ming Dynasty, it entered the Wanjuan Building in Fengfang. Feng Fang was carved on a stone tablet in her later years. 1562, the fire in Wanjuanlou caused the original post to disappear from the world. So far, only this stone carving Tianyi Pavilion has been collected. The only treasure in the museum is the stele extension, which can be watched and appreciated at close range. When I arrived at Tianyi Pavilion, I couldn't help but look at Dragon Book and Lanting Preface.
Yu Ben was given by Yu Shinan, a great calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty, because it contained the imperial seal of the Yuan calendar, also called "almanac". Yu Shinan's wisdom is a true legend, with a direct charm of Wei and Jin dynasties, which is very close to the charm of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. His pen is vigorous and powerful, and his brushwork is profound.
The best copy of Lanting soul.
It was originally presented by Chu Suiliang, a great calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. Because there are poems inscribed by Mi Fei after the volume, it is also called "Mi Fei's Poem Book". This book is light and healthy, warm and dotted, with smooth veins and flowing clouds, and won the charm of Lanting.
A replica that best reflects the original appearance of Lanting.
Feng Ben was copied by Feng Chengsu, a calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. Because the word "Dragon" in the frontispiece is left in Xiao Zhuan, it is called "Dragon Book" in later generations. Because of the "double hook" method, it is the closest copy of Lanting in Tang Dynasty.
The best copy of Lanting's personality.
Dingwuben is a copy of Ou Yangxun, a great calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. It was sketched on a stone during the Xuanhe period in the Northern Song Dynasty and was named after it was discovered in Dingwu, Hebei Province during the Qing Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty. Only rubbings have been handed down in Ding Wu Yuan for a long time, which is the original rubbings and the most precious version in Ding Wu Yuan Lanting.
The Five Manuscripts of the Tang Dynasty showed the charm of "the best running script in the world" from different levels, and it was the originator of the two systems of Lanting in later generations: first, the plaster system based on Yu Ben, Chu, Feng and Huang Bo; First of all, it is the system of stele study based on Dingwuben. These two systems coexist in the world, giving birth to countless people in later generations. The five great books of the Tang Dynasty were collected by the Qing Dynasty, and later they were scattered all over the world: Yu Ben, Chu Ben and Feng Ben are now in the Palace Museum in Beijing, while Huang Shuben and Ding Wuben are now in the Palace Museum in Taipei, so they can't reunite across the sea. This time, these five rare books are gathered in one place, and the best books on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are gathered together, fully demonstrating the brilliance of Chinese treasures.
Today's so-called "Preface to the Lanting Pavilion", in addition to several copies of the Tang Dynasty, stone rubbings are also extremely precious. The most legendary is Song Tuoding's Preface to Wu Lanting. Both manuscripts and rubbings are quite convincing for the study of Wang Xizhi, and they are also extremely valuable materials for the study of calligraphy in past dynasties. In China's calligraphy classics, there are countless materials about Preface to Lanting.
Whether the Preface to the Lanting Pavilion was written by Wang Xizhi has always been controversial, and there was a fierce public opinion in the late Qing Dynasty and 1960s.
Some people think that Lanting Conference is a secret meeting to discuss military affairs and a cover-up in the name of calligraphy. In any case, its calligraphy status is unshakable.