Wang Xizhi
A versatile calligrapher, Wang was good at writing in different styles. He was recognized by calligraphic circles as the calligraphy god. The History of Jin Dynasty commented that his Lishu style calligraphic works displayed brush touches as floating as clouds in the sky and as vigorous and strong as a dragon flying. His other handwritings in different styles are not available today either. Only copies exist.
Wang Xizhi had seven sons. Wang Xianzhi, Wang Ningzhi, and Wang Weizhi were good at calligraphy. Wang Xianzhi, Wang’s seventh son, was the best known of the seven sons. Legend has it that the two characters on the monument at the Orchid Pavilion were written respectively by the father and the son, and that the father wrote the first character, Goose, and the son inscribed the second character, Pond. The monument is known as the father-son monument. The ten-volume Wang Xizhi’s essays were lost in history. The Ming scholars published his works that have passed down today. The sites preserved because of his calligraphic works are the Orchid Pavilion, Bifei Lane, Bijia Bridge, Tisan Bridge and Duopo Lane. His residence in the Jiezhu Temple is now a memorial hall in his memory.
Source: travelchinaguide.com
Editor: Wang Moyan
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