Wang Xizhi

Wang Xizhi (Chinese王羲之; * 307 in today's Shandong Province, † 365 ), who was born in the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, is one of the most important Chinese calligraphers. His most famous work is the preface to the collection of poems from the Orchid Pavilion.

The two towering masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy, Wang Xizhi and his son Wang Xianzhi ( 344-388 ) that are not only written in theory, but pointing the way in the development of Chinese writing laid the foundations, lived in the 4th century.

Wang Xizhi is expressed in the following words about his art:

" Each horizontal line is like a pile of clouds in order of battle; each prong is an arc of great force; each point is like a rock that falls from the summit; every bend is like a dry Weingerank of great antiquity; any rapid, free sat sat stroke is a racers at the start. "

Biography

Wang Xizhi had seven sons and one daughter. Up to a son who died young, were all the sons of calligraphers. The most famous among them was the youngest son, Wang Xianzhi.

Wang Xizhi was born into a noble family. His grandfather and his father had held high positions at court. The family, however, was primarily known for their calligraphers. Of the approximately one hundred names are known calligraphers from the Jin Dynasty belong to twenty Wang family. Wang Xizhi himself learned first from his father, and later by the famous calligrapher Wei Shuo.

Initially, Wang Xizhi also held an office. However, he was offended by his superior, became ill and quit his job. At his parents' grave, he vowed never to work more as a civil servant. During his life, Wang Xizhi wrote thousands of calligraphy, none of which is original but survived. The copies are all from templates according to his engraved texts, of which there are about a dozen.