Wang Xianzhi (calligrapher)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.

Tang Dynasty copy of 新婦地黃湯帖 by Wang Xianzhi

Wang Xianzhi (simplified Chinese: 王献之; traditional Chinese: 王獻之; pinyin: Wáng Xiànzhī; Wade–Giles: Wang Hsien-chih, 344–386), courtesy name Zijing (子敬), was a famous Chinese calligrapher of the Eastern Jin dynasty.

He was the seventh and youngest son of the famed Wang Xizhi. Wang inherited his father's talent for the art, and although several of his siblings were notable calligraphers, only Xianzhi was able to eventually equal his father in status, with the pair later attaining the appellation, "The Two Wangs (二王 èr wáng)." Wang Xianzhi's (also referred to as "Junior Wang" 小王) style is substantially more fluid than his father's, contrary to his father Wang Xizhi's calligraphy ("Senior Wang" 大王), whose structural firmness nonetheless remains unrivaled. Xianzhi's most celebrated accomplishment is his refinement of the "running-cursive" script (行草), a writing style which, as the name implies, combines features of both the cursive and running scripts. The Duck-Head Pill Note is an outstanding example of this technique. Another of Xianzhi's accomplishments is the extensive application of the "one-stroke writing" technique for (cursive script), historically (though perhaps incorrectly) attributed to Zhang Zhi (張芝) of the Late Han, which laces together several characters (typically three to four) into a single stroke or renders a complex character in a convoluted single stroke. Until the Tang Dynasty, Wang Xianzhi's influence and reputation largely surpassed that of his father.

When he was young, his father, Wang Xizhi found his talent and started calligraphy training him calligraphy around the age of seven. According to one popular anecdote, Wang Xizhi once unsuccessfully tried to snatch Xianzhi's brush from behind while the latter was writing. Being amazed at Xianzhi's strong grip, Wang Xizhi remarked, "This child is sure to become famous!" Wang Xianzhi indeed continued to practiced diligently into adulthood until finally becoming as skilled as his father. Xianzhi died at age 42 while still in his prime. By comparison, his father lived to the age of 59, though it was only in Xizhi's latter years that he was able to produce the work he is most well-known for, Lantingji Xu or Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion. Along with his father, he was eventually crowned as one of the "Four Worthies of Calligraphy (書中四賢 shūzhōng sìxián)."

References

• Pang, Shutian, "Wang Xianzhi". Encyclopedia of China (Arts Edition), 1st ed.

External links

• Wang Xianzhi and his Calligraphy Gallery at China Online Museum