The original work has been lost in the long river of history.
The "Preface to the Lanting Collection" was written by Wang Xizhi, the calligrapher of the Jin Dynasty, who met friends at the foot of Lanzhu Mountain in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province and wrote "the best running script in the world". It is also known as "The Preface to the Lanting Collection" and "The Preface to Linhe". , "Ye Tie", "March 3rd Orchid Pavilion Poetry Preface", etc.
To this day, its whereabouts are still confusing, which is a masterpiece of calligraphy that is "unparalleled among the Guiyue Group, ancient and modern".
Among the eight existing Lanting columns, the unsigned third of the eight columns was once suspected to be the original work of Wang Xizhi. However, after extensive research, it was found that this work was still filled with double hooks and ink by the later calligrapher Feng Chengsu. It is not the original work of Wang Xizhi.
Content of the work:
The full text of "Lanting Preface" is 28 lines and 324 words. It has been regarded as the best in the book circles of past dynasties.
Mi Fu, a master of calligraphy in the Song Dynasty, called it "the first calligraphy in Chinese running script". Anyone who learns calligraphy in future generations will fall in love with Lanting and be unable to extricate themselves.
The dancing-like calligraphy of "Lanting Preface" really makes us calligraphy students of the younger generations marvel at Wang Xizhi's superb calligraphy skills and Wang Xizhi's literary talent as smooth as water.