Artist: Wang Xizhi (303-361)
Date: Original calligraphy written in the Eastern Jin (317-420); Stele installed in 832; Rubbing made in the Song (960-1276)
Material: Ink on 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. The inscription on this stele was composed of characters selected from Wang Xizhi's calligraphy works and was erected in 832 (the sixth year of the Dahe period) at the Xingtang Temple in Xi'an. The original stele has long been lost. This is a Song dynasty rubbing and was previously collected by Wu Zhen of the Ming dynasty.
