Wang Xizhi's preface:
Wang Xizhi (32 1 -379 or 303 -36 1), known as Wang Youjun, has a few words. Langxie (now Linyi, Shandong Province) was born in Huiji (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province), the son of Wang Kuang, and the satrap of Huainan. Calligrapher and writer of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Born in the Wang family of Langya, he studied books at the age of 7, and read essays by his predecessors at the age of 12. Learn less from Wei Shuo, travel to the famous mountains in the north after crossing the river, read famous works such as Lisi and Cao, read Cai Yong's The Book of Songs, and read Luoyang Hua Yue Monument, and begin to realize the shortcomings. So he borrowed many tablets, made great progress in calligraphy, created a new beautiful and convenient style, and pushed cursive script to a new realm.
Wang Xizhi became an official at the age of 23 and was appointed as the secretary of the doctor. Later, he was a regular servant, general Ningyuan, and Jiangzhou secretariat. He was once a general of the right army, and his civil history must be seen. In the 11th year of Yonghe (355), he resigned from Huiji County due to illness. After that, you can relax between mountains and rivers and fish for entertainment. Jin Mu was promoted to Heping for five years (36 1 year), and Wang Xizhi died at the age of 58. His youngest son, Wang Xianzhi, achieved the greatest achievement in calligraphy among his descendants, and was named "Two Kings" just like his father, Wang Xizhi.
Calligraphy attainments:
At the age of seven, Wang Xizhi was already a good writer. At the age of twelve, he stole the pen theory of the previous generation from his father's pillow. His father, Wang Kuang, is good at deeds and official books; Uncle Wang Xun is good at calligraphy and painting. Wang Sengqian's "On Books" once commented: "Before crossing the river to the east and the right army, Xun was the most important, painting was the teacher, and writing was the method of the right army." Wang Xizhi was deeply influenced by the Wangs in calligraphy since he was a child.
Wang Xizhi studied with his aunt Wei Shuo in his early years. Wei Shuo, who studied under Zhong You, inherited his method brilliantly. She taught Wang Xizhi the method of Zhong You, the method of learning calligraphy in Wei Dynasty, and her own calligraphy style and method. The Book Review of the Tang Dynasty said: "Mrs. Wei's books are as beautiful as flower arranging dancers. Another example is the beauty on the stage, the fairy shadow, the red lotus reflecting the water, and the blue marsh floating. "
Artistic style:
Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Collection of Lanting was highly praised by calligraphers of all ages. This post is a draft with 28 lines and 324 words. It is said that the author couldn't write because of the influence of the weather, geography and people at that time. Among them, there are more than twenty "zhi" characters, which are written in different ways. Mi Fei called it "the best running script in the world" in Song Dynasty.
Wang Xizhi, who is good at Li, Cao, Kai and Xing, has thoroughly studied his body, imitated his heart, pursued his hand, learned from others, prepared his body and melted into one furnace. He got rid of the style of writing in Han and Wei dynasties and became a family of his own, with far-reaching influence.