The achievements of the sons of calligrapher Wang Xizhi
Wang Xizhi had seven sons and one daughter. All seven sons are good at calligraphy. . .
The eldest son Wang Xuanzhi, whose courtesy name is Boyuan, is a master of both cursive and official script. His wife is He. Xuanzhi died of illness shortly after his marriage, leaving no children. His younger brother Ningzhi's son Yunzhi was his heir. During his lifetime, Xuan Zhi participated in the Lanting gathering hosted by his father Xizhi, and a post has been handed down from generation to generation. ?
The second son Wang Ningzhi, named Shuping. He successively served as the governor of Jiangzhou, general on the right, internal historian of Kuaiji, and also worked in cursive script and official script. He also attended the Lanting party hosted by his father Wang Xizhi. His wife is the talented girl Xie Daoyun.
The third son, Wang Huanzhi, was good at cursive calligraphy. He studied his father's calligraphy since he was a child and achieved a similar level of appearance. There are posts handed down from generation to generation. Huanzhi also participated in the Lanting party hosted by his father Wang Xizhi.
The fourth son, Wang Suzhi, named Yougong, served successively as Zhongshu Lang and Qiaoqi Councilor. He attended the Lanting gathering hosted by his father Wang Xizhi, and some of his poems were passed down to him, but his dharma stickers have not been handed down.
The fifth son, Wang Huizhi, is one of the brothers who has outstanding achievements in calligraphy.
Wang Caozhi, also known as Zi Zhong. He successively served as Secretary Supervisor, Shizhong, Shangshu and Yuzhang Prefect. His wife is He. He's grandfather was He Xun, the Sikong of the current dynasty. The two sons of Cao Zhi You Xuan Zhi and Hui Zhi.
The seventh son, Wang Xianzhi, is the one with the highest achievement in calligraphy among his brothers.
Wang Xianzhi (344-386), courtesy name Zijing, a minor official slave, Han nationality, native of Langya Linyi (now Lanshan District, Linyi City, Shandong Province), was born in Shanyin, Kuaiji (now Zhejiang Province) Shaoxing City). He was a famous calligrapher, poet, and painter in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the seventh son of the "Sage of Calligraphy" Wang Xizhi, and the son-in-law of Sima Yu, Emperor Wen of the Jin Dynasty.
Wang Xianzhi is famous for his young talent. He successively held the posts of governor of the state, secretary Lang, chief situ, prefect of Wuxing, Zhongshu Ling, etc. To distinguish him from his younger brother Wang Min, he was known as "Da Ling". He married Xi Daomao and Princess Sima Daofu of Xin'an successively. In the eleventh year of Taiyuan (386), Wang Xianzhi died of illness at the age of forty-three. In the first year of Long'an (397), Shizhong, Tejin, Guanglu Doctor, and Dazai were posthumously given the posthumous title "Xian".
Wang Xianzhi has practiced calligraphy with his father since he was a child. He is famous for his running script and cursive script, but he also has a profound foundation in regular script and official script. Together with his father Wang Xizhi, he is known as the "Two Kings". He is also known as the "Little Saint". Together with Zhang Zhi, Zhong Yao and Wang Xizhi, he is also known as the "Four Sages in the Book". Zhang Huaiguan rated his calligraphy as first-class in "Shu Appraisal".