Wei Shuo 卫铄

Wei Shuo (273-349), commonly addressed just as Lady Wei, was a calligrapher of Jin Dynasty (266-420). She was unusual and outstanding in her era during which Chinese women were required to restrict themselves to the care of their homes and children and obedience to their husbands and parents-in-law.

Born in Dong-an Town, Jin He (today’s Xia County, Shanxi), Wei Shuo was the daughter of Wei Zhan and niece of Wei Guan, a famous calligraphy in Jin dynasty.

She was introduced to calligraphy at very young age when she was allowed to watch her uncle Wei Guan practice writing calligraphy. She observed carefully her uncle’s writing style and technique: how he held his brush, execute the strokes and compose the characters. After her uncle finished his practice, she would quickly go into her own room and practiced what she had learned.

She later learned calligraphy from the great calligrapher Zhong Yao. With much practice, Wei became well known for her Lishu (Official or Clerical script) and Kaishu (standard script).

Her calligraphy was described as being beautiful, fascinating and harmonious; it was like a fairy playing with her shadow or like a lovely young lady walking gracefully out onto a stage to perform.

Wei was also a great calligraphy theoretician whose theories resolved around the structural composition of an entire piece of calligraphy.

There is another reason that made her famous in calligraphy. She was the teacher of the sage of calligraphy, Wang Xizhi.

Her calligraphic works include the Famous Concubine Inscription (Ming Ji Tie) and the Inscription of Wei-shi Henan (Wei-shi Henan Tie)(see diagram).

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卫铄（273-349），一般称为卫夫人，是晋（266-420）代著名书法家。她是不寻常与特出的，因为在她那个时代，女人的活动只能限于家庭与孩子间，听命于丈夫与父母。

卫铄出生于晋何东安邑（今山西夏县），是为卫展女儿，也是晋代大书法家卫瓘侄女。

她从小由于允许观看叔叔练字而接触书法。她仔细观察叔叔的书写方式与技巧：如何执笔、运笔、安排字行。叔叔练字完毕后，她立刻回到自己的房间，练习刚刚所学到的。

后来她跟随大书法家钟繇学习书法。苦练之下，使她闻名于隶书与楷书。

她的书法被形容为优美、醉人与协调，像仙娥弄影、美女优雅地登台表演。

卫铄也是个有名的书法理论家，她的理论集中于书写安排之章法。

还有一个理由使她闻名于世。她是书圣王羲之的老师。

她的书法作品有：名姬帖与卫氏和南帖（见图）。