Wang Xizhi: The Sage of Chinese calligraphy 书圣王羲之

Wang Xizhi (321 - 379) is reputed as the most outstanding calligrapher in Chinese history, unsurpassed over l,600 years. He has traditionally been called the ‘sage of calligraphy’.

He is remembered not only for revolutionising the art of Chinese writing, but also for his complete devotion to this traditional Chinese art form. He was also remembered as the founder of the Southern School, or Rubbing School of calligraphy.

Wang was born in a family of calligraphy, whose uncles and cousins were all famous calligraphers of their time. At the age of seven, Wang began a systematic study of calligraphy under a lady calligrapher - Wei Shuo, or Wei Furen (Madam Wei). He practised the Wei-style calligraphy for five years and later learned much from the work of other previous calligraphers, including Zhong Yao's Kaishu, Zhang Zhi's Caoshu and the calligraphy of Li Si and Cai Yong.

From then on, he digested characteristics of calligraphers from different dynasties, and innovated in the plain style of Wei and Jin to form a new style of flowing grace, emphasizing individual personality, style and mood.

Emperor Wu in Liang Dynasty praised his calligraphy as ‘the dragon jumping over Sky Gate, and the tiger lying on Phoenix Pavilion’.

In the early Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong loved Wang's calligraphy very much and because of his favour, most calligraphers at that time studied Wang's styles. When the official history of the Jin dynasty (265-420) was compiled, the emperor himself wrote an Imperial Postscript to the biography of Wang, in which he declared Wang the greatest calligrapher of all time, ‘I examined all calligraphy works with tiny details of ink from ancient times until now. I only find Wang as the most perfect calligrapher.’

Imperial sponsorship was largely responsible for the dominant position this stylistic lineage has long enjoyed. Emperor Tang Taizong fixed the style of Wang as the imperial signature with such finality that it was maintained as such through the Tang dynasty and beyond.

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王羲之被认为是中国书法史上最杰出的书法家，千六年来无人能出其右。传统上，他被称为书圣。

他为后世所知的不但是他改革了中国书法，还有对书法的完全投入。他也因是南派帖学书法的创始者而留名于世。

王羲之生长于书法世家，他的叔伯侄表皆为当代著名书法家。七岁时，他开始在卫夫人的指导下有系统地学习书法。他跟卫夫人学习了五年后，再学前朝其他书家的法书，包括钟繇的楷书，张芝的草书，与李斯及蔡邕的书法。

从此，他吸取了各朝书法家的特点，由魏晋之朴实而自创飘逸的新体，强调个性、风格、心境。

梁武帝赞之为‘龙跃天门，虎卧凤阙’。

初唐，唐太宗最喜爱王羲之的书法；因为他的喜好，当时书法家大都学习王体。《晋书》书学之时，太宗还亲自写了《王羲之传》，宣称王位古今最伟大的书法家：‘所以察详古今，研精篆素，尽善尽美，其惟王逸少乎！’

王体持久垄断书坛，自然与皇帝赞赏有关。唐太宗裁定王体为正统，以致王体得以由唐代起持续不衰。