The Sage of Calligraphy — Wang Xizhi

Wang Xizhi is China’s most renowned and most accomplished calligrapher. Drawing strengths from diverse predecessors, he forged a distinctive style of his own. As a highly symbolic monument in Chinese calligraphy history, he exerted profound influence over Chinese calligraphy for more than a thousand years and left behind a wealth of varied masterpieces. He excelled at clerical, cursive, regular and running scripts. Through intensive study of structural forms, constant mental contemplation and practical imitation, he absorbed the merits of various schools and mastered all script styles, blending them into one. Breaking away from the brush‑work conventions of the Han and Wei dynasties, he established his unique school with far‑reaching influence.

Preface to the Lanting Collection exhibits exquisite and marvelous calligraphy. Among existing copies, the traced version by Feng Chengsu using the “double‑outline filling” technique ranks the finest. Ancient critics described Wang Xizhi’s Preface to the Lanting Collection as “fresh breeze drifting from sleeves, bright moon nesting in the breast”.

The complete text consists of 28 lines and 324 characters. Every character is “light‑floating as scattered clouds, agile as roaming dragons”, rich in unpredictable and endless variations. It departed from the plain, sturdy and unadorned style prevailing since the Han‑Wei period and pioneered an elegant, smooth manner. Its vigorous and graceful aura appears entirely natural. The author’s demeanour, temperament, breadth of mind and moral sentiments are all integrated into the work. Its layout, character structure and brush techniques are consummate. This masterpiece completed at the age of thirty‑three marks the pinnacle of Wang Xizhi’s calligraphic art.