Zhi Yong 智永

In Chinese history, the Qin and Han dynasties witnessed the most dramatic change of Chinese writing system. However, it was during the period of Wei, Jin and Southern & Northern dynasties that the prominence was given to the development of calligraphy. This period is defined by modern calligraphers as ‘the establishing period of Chinese calligraphy’.

Fast forwarded to Sui dynasty that was founded in 581 AD. During this period, the society flourished in every aspect, including calligraphy. However, calligraphy of the Sui dynasty, represented by Zhi Yong, was really just a transition from one high point in Wei Jin dynasties to another in Tang dynasty.

Zhi Yong, also name Faji, was born in Huiji (now Shaoxing in Zhejiang). His family name was Wang, and according to the records of some ancient books, he was the seventh-generation descendent of Wang Xizhi, the sage of calligraphy. His birth year was unknown. He first became a monk in Yongxin Temple and moved to Ximing Temple in Chang-an later. Yongxin Temple was originally the residence of Wang Xizhi, was converted to a temple for unknown reason. When it was converted, it was called Yunmen Temple.

Zhi Yong’s calligraphic works were first known by people in the Chen period (557 – 589) of the Southern Dynasties and became very famous in the Sui dynasty. So his calligraphy is considered to be part of Sui calligraphy. He was also famed by his student, Yu Shinan, a great calligrapher in Tang Dynasty.

Zhi Yong became a monk when he was very young and lived a seclude life in Yongxing Temple for 30 years. During that period, he got up early every morning and prepared a large grail of calligraphy ink to practice in Wang Xizhi’s model calligraphic works. He was good at regular script and cursive script. His work in regular script was brisk and yet precise, and his cursive style was free and firm.

His famous calligraphic work is ‘The Thousand-Character Essay in Regular and Cursive Scripts’ (Zhencao Qianziwen). It is said to be a piece from heaven, and is widely used by calligraphy learners as a model book.

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中国的历史里，中文在秦汉的改变最大。但是，书法在魏晋南北朝时的发展最为显著。现代书法家把这个时期称为‘书法的建立时期’。

隋朝于公元581年建立。这个时期，社会各方面都很发达，包括书法。但是，以智永为代表的书法在隋朝其实是由魏晋的一个高峰到唐朝的另一个高峰的过渡期。

智永又名法极，生于会稽（今浙江绍兴）。他俗性王，据古书记载，是书圣王羲之的第七代孙。他的生年不详。开始在永欣寺出家为和尚，后来到长安的西明寺。永欣寺原为王羲之旧宅，后不知为何改成寺庙，当时称云门寺。

智永的书法在南朝之陈代（557-589）就有所闻，到了隋朝就更加著名了。所以他的书法就放入隋朝来叙述。他的书法还靠他的学生虞世南而闻名。虞世南是唐代大书法家。

智永从小就出家为僧，在永欣寺过了30年出家人的生活。这期间，他每天很早就起身，磨了一大盘墨，临写王羲之的字帖。他擅长真草二体。真书活泼严谨，草书自由沉稳。

他有名的书法作品为‘真草千字文’，被誉为‘神妙之作’，为历代书法爱好者所临摹的书法范本。