Artist: Wang Xizhi (303-361)

Date: Eastern Jin (317-420)

Material: Ink on paper

• Object Type：
  • CALLIGRAPHY
• Location：
  • Chinese Calligraphy Gallery
• Tag：
  • yuan sheng tie letters to friends cursive script album leaf wang xizhi eastern jin ink paper

Wang Xizhi (303-361), also known by his zi (designated name) Yishao, was a native of Linyi in Langya. He later moved to Shaoxing. Serving as the General of Youjun, Wang was also called "Wang Youjun". Wang Xizhi absorbed the expertise of many master calligraphers and had a profound learning of various scripts of calligraphy. He pioneered new trends in running and cursive scripts. This leaf is Wang Xizhi's letters to Yuan Hong and some other friends, collected in the Song dynasty album of calligraphy rubbings Chun Hua Ge Tie (The Compendia of Selected Calligraphy Works from the Imperial Archives of the Chunhua Reign). This work features characters executed in an elegant variety of slanted forms with graceful and fluid brushstrokes, exuding a radiant and refined appeal.