Wang Xizhi (王羲之) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wang Xizhi was a Calligrapher and Official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Yi Shao	逸少	Yìshǎo

Life and dates

Death

AD 361 年五十九卒
Age 59
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 202

Age

59
Reckoning Sui · At death
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 202
13
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 7
late years; years at mulberry and elm
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 149, 176

Attested activity

AD 355 永和十一年三月癸卯朔，九日辛亥
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 163
AD 353 永和九年，歲在癸丑，暮春之初
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 114-115
AD 353 永和九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 119-129
AD 303 to AD 361 Eastern Jin activity (allusion via calligraphy in tomb)
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 186
AD 345 to AD 361 七八歲時學書
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 267-268
AD 340 亮臨薨
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 20

Show 21 more source-backed claims

AD 353 to AD 354 今
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 59, 74
AD 355 to AD 361 初，羲之既優遊無事
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 184
AD 324 to AD 340 及長
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 9-10, 19
AD 330 to AD 361 右軍
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passages 155, 160-161
AD 350 to AD 361 右軍從旁掣其筆
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
AD 361 年五十九卒
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 202
AD 316 to AD 322 年十三
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 7-8
AD 317 to AD 322 幼
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 6
AD 345 to AD 349 時劉惔為丹陽尹
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 179, 182
AD 353 to AD 355 時東土饑荒
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 83-85
AD 351 to AD 353 時殷浩與桓溫不協
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 34-38, 58
AD 351 to AD 361 晉右將軍
Dated from the passage context · Book of Song 92, passage 237
AD 303 to AD 361 東晉
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 178
AD 353 to AD 355 東晉永和前後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 130-131, 149, 152
AD 346 永和二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 314, 317
AD 320 to AD 335 江左
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 93, passage 106
AD 303 to AD 361 王羲之
Strongly inferred · History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 138
AD 353 王羲之所書蘭亭序
Strongly inferred · History of Yuan 187, passage 180
AD 303 to AD 361 王逸少（東晉）
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 325, 329, 340-344
AD 355 羲之既去官
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 173-175, 178
AD 330 to AD 365 逸少
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 197

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Wang Yi (王廙)
paternal uncle 叔 · paternal line · Through Father of Wang Xizhi (右軍父)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 155
Child of Wang Kuang (王曠)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 4
Parent of Grandfather of Wang Yue
great-grandson 曾孫 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Song 92, passage 237
Kin of Wang Dao (王導)
nephew 從子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 2, 10
Kin of Wang Dun (王敦)
paternal uncle 從伯 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 10
Parent of Wang Xianzhi (王獻之)
father 家尊 · paternal line
son 子
father 父 · paternal line
father 父
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Jin 80, passages 212, 232, 267, 287, 298, 329; Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
Descendant of Wang Zheng (王正)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 3
Ancestor of Wang Yue (王悅)
great-grandson 曾孫 · paternal line · 3 generations
Directly stated · Book of Song 92, passage 237
Sibling of Elder brother of Wang Xizhi (王羲之兄)
elder brother 兄
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 165
Parent of Elder brother of Wang Xianzhi (兄)
elder brother 兄
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passages 297-298
Parent of Wang Caozhi (王操之)
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passages 258, 267
Parent of Wang Huizhi (王徽之)
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passages 258, 267
Child of Father of Wang Xizhi (王羲之父)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 163-164
Child of Father of Wang Xizhi (右軍父)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 155
Child of Mother of Wang Xizhi (王羲之母)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 165
Parent of Wang Xuanzhi (王玄之)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 205-206
Parent of Wang Ningzhi (王凝之)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 204, 207
Parent of Wang Huizhi (王徽之)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 212
Spouse of Daughter of Xi Jian (郗鑒女)
wife 妻
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 18

Kinship Role well-known sons · Count 5
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 205
Kinship Role sons · Count 7
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 205
Kinship Role daughters · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 30
Kinship Role grandsons · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 188
Kinship Role sons · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 30, 161, 177, 188, 203

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Clan Wang clan 王氏
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 12-13

Career and standing

calligrapher and retired official 書家
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passages 184, 207
calligrapher 善隸書
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 9
calligrapher 書
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 145
local administrator of a commandery in the east 東土郡守
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 83, 87, 92
army adviser 參軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 19
General of the Right Army 右軍將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 34

Show 18 more source-backed claims

General Who Guards the Army 護軍將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 34
General Who Pacifies the Distance 甯遠將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 21
Gentleman of the Palace Library 秘書郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 19
Inspector of Jiang province 江州刺史
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 21
internal administrator of Kuaiji 會稽內史
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 34
General Who Guards the Army 護軍將軍
Declined
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 23
Minister of Personnel 吏部尚書
Declined
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 22
Palace Attendant 侍中
Declined
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 22
Right General 右將軍
Held
Directly stated · Book of Song 92, passage 237
Right General 右軍
Held
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 155
chief clerk 長史
Promoted
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 19
Kuaiji 會稽
AD 355 永和十一年三月癸卯朔，九日辛亥 · Resigned
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 163, 173
Kuaiji 會稽
Succeeded · With Wang Shu (王述)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 153
Grand Master of the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon 金紫光祿大夫
AD 361 年五十九卒，贈金紫光祿大夫 · Posthumously awarded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 202
state favor and glory 國寵榮
Received
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 165
Claimed
AD 355 永和十一年三月癸卯朔，九日辛亥 · Illness plea
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 163
Lived at leisure
AD 355 to AD 361 羲之既優遊無事 · Retirement
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 184
Refused repeated summons
Declined office
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 22-23

Places and affiliations

Polity Eastern Jin 東晉 · Relation Active under
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 178
Polity Eastern Jin 東晉 · Relation Associated
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 35, passage 197
Polity Eastern Jin 東晉 · Relation Of
Strongly inferred · History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 138
Polity Eastern Jin 東晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 161
Polity Eastern Jin 東晉 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
Polity Jin 晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Song 92, passage 237

Show 15 more source-backed claims

Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Associated with
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passage 298
Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Lived under
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passage 340; History of Yuan 187, passage 180
Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 19, 22, 34, 83-85, 159, 165, 178, 182, 184, 267
AD 355 to AD 361 頃東游還
At the east 東 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 188
At Zhe River 浙江 · Relation Traveled through · first crossing; resolved to end his days there
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 111
At capital 京師 · Relation Avoided
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 111
At eastern lands 東土 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 83, 92
At eastern region 東土 · Relation Resided
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 173
At Jiang province 江州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 21
At Kuaiji 會稽 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 34, 112, 114, 153, 159
At Mount Ji 蕺山 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 139
At Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji 會稽山陰之蘭亭 · Relation Sojourned
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 114-115
At Shanyin 山陰 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 133
At Xuancheng 宣城 · Relation Sought posting
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 34
Organization Wang clan 王氏 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 208

Learning and skills

Belief Daoist dietetics 服食 · Relation Practitioner of
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 174
Belief elixir regimen and nurturing of nature 服食養性 · Relation Practitioner of
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 111
Skill calligraphy style 右軍之體 · Level archaic-less-valued
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 178
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level broke with ancient forms
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passages 156-157
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level canonical standard
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 197
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level canonical
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passages 73, 75; History of Yuan 187, passage 180

Show 5 more source-backed claims

Skill calligraphy 書 · Level renowned
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 145, 149
Skill calligraphy 筆跡 · Level renowned
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 186
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level unmatched
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 340-343
Skill cursive and clerical script 草隸 · Level unmatched
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 298
Skill clerical script 隸書 · Level unrivaled
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 9

Works and attributed material

biography of Xu Mai 傳
Relation Author · With Xu Mai (許邁)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 319
calligraphy 書
Relation Author
Directly stated · History of the Southern Dynasties 54, passage 138
Orchid Pavilion preface 蘭亭序
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 119-130
Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering 蘭亭序
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 114
Preface to the Orchid Pavilion 蘭亭序
Relation Author
Directly stated · History of Yuan 187, passage 180
Dao De Jing 道德經
Relation Copyist
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 134-135

Show 20 more source-backed claims

AD 355 永和十一年三月癸卯朔，九日辛亥
Oath · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 163-172
Letter · Author · With Prince of Kuaiji (會稽王) · Direct quotation · Extent s0059, s0060, s0061, s0062, s0063, s0064, s0065, s0066, s0067, s0068, s0069, s0070, s0071, s0072, s0073, s0074, s0075, s0076, s0077, s0078, s0079, s0080, s0081, s0082
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 59-82
Letter · Author · With Xie An (謝安) · Direct quotation · Extent s0086, s0087, s0088, s0089, s0090, s0091, s0092, s0093, s0094, s0095, s0096, s0097, s0098, s0099, s0100, s0101, s0102, s0103, s0104, s0105, s0106, s0107, s0108, s0109, s0110
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 85-110
Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering 蘭亭序
Preface · Author · Direct quotation · Extent s0115, s0116, s0117, s0118
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 114-118
Letter · Author · With Prince of Kuaiji (會稽王) · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 58
Letter · Author · With Xie Wan (謝萬) · Direct quotation · Mode quoted-document Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 184-200
Letter · Author · With Yin Hao (殷浩) · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 35-36
Letter · Author · With Yin Hao (殷浩) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 29-33, 38-57
Letter · Author · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 148
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 161
Preface · Author · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 119-129
Speech · Speaker · With Du Yi (杜乂)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 106
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Zhang Yi (張翼)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 161
Speech · Speaker · With Fan-selling old woman of Mount Ji (老姥) · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 142
Speech · Speaker · With Xie An (謝安) · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 176-177
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Wang Qia (王洽)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 156
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 157-158, 161, 174
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 182
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode self-report Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 146-147
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 267

Events and relationships

Ashamed at inspection
Administrative · Administrator · With Wang Shu (王述)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 162-163
At first could not distinguish Zhang Yi's copy of his memorial
Scholarly · Subject · With Zhang Yi (張翼)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 161
Banqueted at Orchid Pavilion and wrote preface
AD 353 永和九年，歲在癸丑，暮春之初 · Literary gathering · Host author · At Orchid Pavilion, Shanyin, Kuaiji 會稽山陰之蘭亭
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 114-115
Compared hosts to hermits and ministers
Rhetorical · Speaker · With Chao Fu (巢父), Xu You (許由), Ji (稷), Qi (契)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 182
Composed preface
Literary · Author
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 119-130
Copied Dao De Jing for geese
Personal · Visitor · With Shanyin Daoist (道士) · At Shanyin 山陰
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 133-135

Show 40 more source-backed claims

Cultivated dietetics and gathered herbs
Religious · Practitioner · With Xu Mai (許邁)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 174
Failed to buy goose
Personal · Would be buyer · At Kuaiji 會稽 · With Kuaiji goose-keeping widow (孤居姥)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 131-132
Failed to pull brush
Anecdote · Tester · With Wang Xianzhi (王獻之) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Liang Yan (梁巘)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
Inscribed fans
Scholarly · Calligrapher · With Fan-selling old woman of Mount Ji (老姥) · At Mount Ji 蕺山
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 139-140, 142
Not recalled because of oath
Political · Retiree
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 178
Opened granaries and lent grain
Relief · Administrator · At eastern lands 東土
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 83
Paid one condolence call
Ritual · Visitor · With Wang Shu (王述)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 153
Posthumous honor declined by sons
AD 361 諸子遵父先旨，固讓不受 · Ritual · Recipient
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 203
Present and rebuked hosts
Social · Guest · With Liu Tan (劉惔)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 182-183
Received ox heart roast
Social · Honored guest · With Zhou Yi (周顗)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 8
Received provincial levies
Administrative · Local official
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 56
Remonstrated against heavy levies
Memorial · Author · At Wu and Kuaiji 吳會
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 84
Replied in zhangcao
Scholarly · Correspondent · With Yu Liang (庾亮)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 150
Roamed eastern landscape
Travel · Traveler
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 173
Sought to split Kuaiji as Yue
Political · Petitioner · At Kuaiji 會稽
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 159-160
Swore before parents tombs
AD 355 永和十一年三月癸卯朔，九日辛亥 · Ritual · Son
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 163
Tried to pull the brush
Scholarly · Tester · With Wang Xianzhi (王獻之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 267
Visited Xu Mai
Social · Visitor · With Xu Mai (許邁)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 317
Visited
Social · Visitor · With Zhou Yi (周顗)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 7
Warned against northern campaign
Counsel · Adviser · With Yin Hao (殷浩)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 35-36, 38
Wrote on lacquer table
Scholarly · Calligrapher · With Disciple of Wang Xizhi (門生)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 137
Marriage selection · Unconventional candidate · At eastern couch 東床
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 14, 16, 18
Political · Refused chancellor recruitment · With Wang Dao (王導) · Mode speech Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 29
Relation Friend of · Person Xu Mai (許邁) · beyond-the-world friendship
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 300, 317
Relation Correspondent of · Person Xie Wan (謝萬)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 184, 195
Relation Teacher of · Person Wang Xianzhi (王獻之)
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passage 267
Relation Correspondent of · Person Prince of Kuaiji (會稽王)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 74
Relation Friend of · Person Xu Xun (許詢)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 113
Relation Companion of · Person Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 192
Relation Ranked with · Person Wang Cheng (王承)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 13
Relation Teacher of · Person Disciple of Wang Xizhi (門生)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 137
Relation Ranked with · Person Wang Yue (王悅)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 13
Relation Companion of · Person Xu Mai (許邁)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 174
Relation Friend of · Person Sun Chuo (孫綽)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 113
Relation Rival of · Person Wang Shu (王述)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 152, 155
Relation Friend of · Person Zhi Dun (支遁)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 113
Relation Friend of · Person Li Chong (李充)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 113
Relation Interlocutor of · Person Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 175
Relation Correspondent of · Person Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 85
Relation Rival of · Person Yu Yi (庾翼)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 160

Assessments and attributes

Assessment All remaining calligraphers are petty and not worth discussing beside him. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 344
Assessment brush movement like floating clouds and a startled dragon · Mode named-source-report
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 9
Assessment early calligraphy did not surpass Yu Yi and Xi Yin; sublime only in old age · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 149
Assessment From Zhong Yao and Wang onward, calligraphy can be discussed with some confidence. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 325
Assessment His dots and sweeps and compositional cutting are so subtle that forms seem broken yet still linked, like mist floating and dew knotting. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 341
Assessment His momentum is like a soaring phoenix and coiling dragon, appearing slanted yet standing straight. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 342

Show 11 more source-backed claims

Assessment hoped to teach descendants honesty generosity and modesty · Mode self-report Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 189
Assessment One may study his writing without tiring and never know its end; heart admires and hand pursues this man alone. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 343
Assessment one of the best youths of the Wang clan · Mode speech Speaker Wang Dun (王敦)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 12
Assessment rank low among great ministers yet bound to speak · Mode self-report Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 77-78
Assessment skin like congealed fat, eyes like dabs of lacquer; an immortal among men · Mode named-person-speech Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之) · With Du Yi (杜乂)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 106
Assessment Surveying ancient and modern seal-script on silk, exhaustive goodness and exhaustive beauty belong to Wang Yishao alone. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 340
Assessment this boy will later have a great name · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 267
Assessment uncompromising integrity · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 9
Assessment unmatched-in-cursive-and-clerical · Mode named-source-report Source Work contemporary critics
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 298
tongue-tied as a boy; later fluent and forceful in debate
Speech
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 6, 9
Item Chancellor Wang's handwriting 手跡 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 29

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 1, 182, 340; Book of Liang 35, passage 197; Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 178
modeled his way of life on Lu Jia, Ban Si, and Yang Wangsun
Person Ids Lu Jia (陸賈), Ban Si (班嗣), Yang Wangsun (楊王孫) · Mode self-report Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 194
led sons and carried young grandsons among mulberries and fruit after returning from an eastern tour
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 188

References in the histories

Search passages

History

72 passages

Book of Jin, Chapter 80Volume 80 Biographies 50: Wang Xizhi · 56 passages

Open chapter

王羲之 Wang Xizhi

王羲之，字逸少，司徒導之從子也。 Wang Xizhi, whose courtesy name was Yishao, was a nephew of Wang Dao, the Minister of Education.

羲之幼訥於言，人未之奇。 As a boy Wang Xizhi was tongue-tied, and no one thought him extraordinary.

時重牛心炙，坐客未啖，顗先割啖羲之，於是始知名。 Ox-heart roast was then considered a great delicacy. Before the other guests had tasted it, Zhou Yi carved a portion and offered it to Wang Xizhi, and only then did the boy begin to make a name for himself.

敦嘗謂羲之曰：「汝是吾家佳子弟，當不減阮主簿。」 Wang Dun once told him, "You are one of the best youths in our clan; you should prove a match for Clerk Ruan."

裕亦目羲之與王承、王悅為王氏三少。 For his part, Ruan Yu named Wang Xizhi, Wang Cheng, and Wang Yue the three outstanding younger men of the Wang family.

訪之，乃羲之也，遂以女妻之。 They asked who he was: it was Wang Xizhi, and Xi Jian gave him his daughter in marriage.

亮臨薨，上疏稱羲之清貴有鑒裁。 On his deathbed Yu Liang memorialized the throne, commending Wang Xizhi for his integrity, high standing, and sound judgment.

羲之既少有美譽，朝廷公卿皆愛其才器，頻召為侍中、吏部尚書，皆不就。 Wang Xizhi had been celebrated since his early years, and the great officers at court prized his gifts; they called him repeatedly to serve as Palace Attendant and as Minister of Personnel, but he declined every appointment.

揚州刺史殷浩素雅重之，勸使應命，乃遺羲之書曰：「悠悠者以足下出處足觀政之隆替，如吾等亦謂為然。 Yin Hao, the Inspector of Yang province, had always held him in high regard and pressed him to accept. Yin wrote to Wang Xizhi: "Gossip holds that whether you serve or withdraw is itself a barometer of good or bad government—and people like me agree.

羲之遂報書曰：「吾素自無廊廟志，直王丞相時果欲內吾，誓不許之，手跡猶存，由來尚矣，不於足下參政而方進退。 Wang Xizhi answered: "I have never aspired to high ministerial rank. When Chancellor Wang once tried to bring me into the administration, I swore I would not go—the letter he wrote me is still in my keeping, and my resolve has been clear for years. I am not only now, as you take power, deciding whether to step forward or back.

羲之既拜護軍，又苦求宣城郡，不許，乃以為右軍將軍、會稽內史。 Wang Xizhi did accept the post of General Who Guards the Army, then pleaded repeatedly for Xuancheng commandery. When that was denied, he was appointed General of the Right Army and internal administrator of Kuaiji.

時殷浩與桓溫不協，羲之以國家之安在於內外和，因以與浩書以戒之，浩不從。 Yin Hao and Huan Wen were at odds. Wang Xizhi believed the realm could be secure only if court and frontier remained at peace, so he wrote to admonish Yin Hao, who paid no heed.

及浩將北伐，羲之以為必敗，以書止之，言甚切至。 When Yin Hao prepared a northern campaign, Wang Xizhi was convinced it would end in disaster and sent him a letter urging him to desist, in the frankest terms.

復圖再舉，又遺浩書曰： When Yin plotted a second offensive, Wang Xizhi wrote to him again:

時東土饑荒，羲之輒開倉振貸。 Famine struck the eastern regions, and Wang Xizhi opened the government granaries to feed the people.

然朝廷賦役繁重，吳會憂甚，羲之每上疏爭之，事多見從。 Yet the court's taxes and labor demands remained crushing, and the Wu–Kuaiji area suffered acutely. Wang Xizhi repeatedly memorialized against the policy, and the throne often took his advice.

羲之雅好服食養性，不樂在京師，初渡浙江，便有終焉之志。 Wang Xizhi cultivated his temperament with elixirs and regimen and disliked life at court; the first time he crossed the Zhe River he resolved to end his days in the south.

孫綽、李充、許詢、支遁等皆以文義冠世，並築室東土，與羲之同好。 Sun Chuo, Li Chong, Xu Xun, Zhi Dun, and their circle led the age in letters and learning; they all built homes in the eastern region and shared Wang Xizhi's tastes.

嘗與同志宴集于會稽山陰之蘭亭，羲之自為之序以申其志，曰： He once joined kindred spirits for a banquet at the Orchid Pavilion south of Kuaiji and composed a preface to set out his feelings. It reads:

或以潘岳《金穀詩序》方其文，羲之比于石崇，聞而甚喜。 Some likened his piece to Pan Yue's preface to the Golden Valley poems and compared Wang Xizhi himself to Shi Chong; he was delighted to hear it.

姥聞羲之將至，烹以待之，羲之嘆惜彌日。 When she heard he was coming she cooked the goose to entertain him; he mourned the loss the whole day through.

又山陰有一道士，養好鵝，羲之往觀焉，意甚悅，固求市之。 A Daoist in Shanyin kept handsome geese. Wang Xizhi went to admire them, was charmed, and pressed to buy the flock.

羲之欣然寫畢，籠鵝而歸，甚以為樂。 Wang Xizhi happily finished the copy, caged the birds, and went home in high spirits.

羲之書其扇，各為五字。 He brushed five characters on each fan.

因謂姥曰：「但言是王右軍書，以求百錢邪。」 He told her, "Just say they were written by the General of the Right Army, and you can ask a hundred cash apiece."

他日，姥又持扇來，羲之笑而不答。 When she came back another day with more fans, he only smiled and declined.

羲之書初不勝庾翼、郗愔，及其暮年方妙。 In his youth Wang Xizhi's hand did not outshine Yu Yi or Xi Yin; only in old age did it become sublime.

嘗以章草答庾亮，而翼深歎伏，因與羲之書云：「吾昔有伯英章草十紙，過江顛狽，遂乃亡失，常歎妙跡永絕。 He once replied to Yu Liang in draft cursive; Yu Yi was awestruck and wrote to him: "I once owned ten sheets of Zhang Zhi's draft cursive, but lost them in the chaos of crossing the Yangzi. I thought such masterpieces were gone forever.

時驃騎將軍王述少有名譽，與羲之齊名，而羲之甚輕之，由是情好不協。 General of Agile Cavalry Wang Shu had enjoyed some fame and was ranked with Wang Xizhi, but Xizhi despised him, and the two never got along.

述先為會稽，以母喪居郡境，羲之代述，止一吊，遂不重詣。 Wang Shu had governed Kuaiji and, mourning his mother, stayed within the commandery when Wang Xizhi succeeded him. Xizhi paid a single condolence call and never returned.

述每聞角聲，謂羲之當候己，輒灑掃而待之。 Whenever Wang Shu heard a horn—thinking Xizhi might be coming—he swept his courtyard and waited.

如此者累年，而羲之竟不顧，述深以為恨。 Years passed, and Wang Xizhi never came; Wang Shu nursed a deep grudge.

及述為揚州刺史，將就征，周行郡界，而不過羲之，臨發，一別而去。 When Wang Shu was appointed Inspector of Yang province, he toured the Kuaiji border on his way to take up the post but did not call on Xizhi; he paid one farewell visit only as he was leaving.

先是，羲之常謂賓友曰：「懷祖正當作尚書耳，投老可得僕射。 Earlier Wang Xizhi had told friends, "Huai Zu might rise to Minister of the Masters of Writing; in his old age he could make Vice Director.

及述蒙顯授，羲之恥為之下，遣使詣朝廷，求分會稽為越州。 When Wang Shu won a lofty post, Wang Xizhi was humiliated at ranking beneath him and sent a messenger to court asking that Kuaiji be split off as a separate Yue province.

羲之深恥之，遂稱病去郡，于父母墓前自誓曰：「維永和十一年三月癸卯朔，九日辛亥，小子羲之敢告二尊之靈。 Wang Xizhi was mortified. He pleaded illness, resigned his post, and swore before his parents' graves: "On the ninth day of the third month of the eleventh year of Yonghe, xinhai day, your son Xizhi reverently addresses the spirits of both my parents.

羲之不天，夙遭閔凶，不蒙過庭之訓。 Heaven denied me parents early; I never received the lessons a son should have at his father's knee.

羲之既去官，與東土人士盡山水之遊，弋釣為娛。 After leaving office he roamed every scenic corner of the east with local friends, hunting and fishing for pleasure.

謝安嘗謂羲之曰：「中年以來，傷於哀樂，與親友別，輒作數日惡。」 Xie An once said to him, "Since middle age I am too easily moved; every parting from family or friends leaves me ill for days."

羲之曰：「年在桑榆，自然至此。 Wang Xizhi replied, "At the sunset of life it comes of itself.

羲之在坐，曰：「令巢許遇稷契，當無此言。」 Wang Xizhi, who was present, said, "Had hermits like Chao Fu and Xu You met ministers like Ji and Qi, they would not speak so."

初，羲之既優遊無事，與吏部郎謝萬書曰： While Wang Xizhi lived at leisure, he wrote to Xie Wan, the Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel:

萬後為豫州都督，又遺萬書誡之曰：「以君邁往不屑之韻，而俯同群辟，誠難為意也。 When Xie Wan later became commander in Yuzhou, Wang Xizhi wrote again to caution him: "A man of your proud, fastidious temper must find it bitter to bend among common colleagues.

年五十九卒，贈金紫光祿大夫。 Wang Xizhi died at fifty-nine and was posthumously honored as Grand Master of the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon.

七八歲時學書，羲之密從後掣其筆不得，歎曰：「此兒後當復有大名。」 At seven or eight, while practicing calligraphy, his father tried to tug the brush from behind and could not. Wang Xizhi sighed, "This boy will make a great name for himself."

嘗書壁為方丈大字，羲之甚以為能，觀者數百人。 He once brushed characters a full square foot high on a wall. His father was deeply impressed, and hundreds came to watch.

安又問曰：「君書何如君家尊？」 Xie An asked again, "How does your calligraphy compare with your father's?"

時議者以為羲之草隸，江左中朝莫有及者，獻之骨力遠不及父，而頗有媚趣。 Critics held that in cursive and clerical script Wang Xizhi had no rival south of the Yangzi or at the old capital; Xianzhi's stroke lacked his father's vigor but showed a seductive charm of its own.

始羲之所與共游者許邁。 Among those with whom Wang Xizhi first roamed the hills was Xu Mai.

羲之造之，未嘗不彌日忘歸，相與為世外之交。 Whenever Wang Xizhi visited, the two would talk the whole day through; they were friends outside the common world.

玄遺羲之書云：「自山陰南至臨安，多有金堂玉室，仙人芝草，左元放之徒，漢末諸得道者皆在焉。」 Xuan wrote to Wang Xizhi: "South from Shanyin to Lin'an lie halls of gold and chambers of jade, spirit herbs, and the company of Zuo Ci—all who attained the Way at the end of the Han are there."

羲之自為之傳，述靈異之跡甚多，不可詳記。 Wang Xizhi himself composed his biography, recording marvels too numerous to set down in full.

逮乎鐘王以降，略可言焉。 Only from Zhong Yao and Wang onward can one speak with confidence.

獻之雖有父風，殊非新巧。 Wang Xianzhi echoes his father but brings little fresh ingenuity.

所以詳察古今，研精篆素，盡善盡美，其惟王逸少乎！ Survey past and present, study every seal-script master on silk, and who attains full goodness and full beauty if not Wang Yishao?

Book of Jin, Chapter 93Volume 93 Biographies 63: Imperial Affines · 1 passage

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王羲之見而目之曰：「膚若凝脂，眼如點漆，此神仙人也。」 Wang Xizhi said of him, ‘His skin is like curdled cream, his eyes like drops of ink—he might be an immortal walking among us.’

Book of Liang, Chapter 35Volume 35: Xiao Zike; Xiao Zifan; Xiao Zixian; Xiao Ziyun · 1 passage

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高祖嘗謂子雲曰：「子敬之書，不及逸少。 The Emperor once said to Ziyun, "Zi Jing's writing does not match Yishao.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 33Volume 33 Biographies 14: Wang Sengqian, Zhang Xu · 8 passages

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王平南廙、右軍叔，過江之前以爲最。 Wang Pingnan Yi, uncle to the Right General, was reckoned the best before the river crossing.

亡曾祖領軍書，右軍云『弟書遂不減吾』。 Of my late great-grandfather the commandant-in-chief's hand, the Right General said, "The younger brother's writing in no way diminishes mine."

變古制，今唯右軍。 He broke with the old forms; today only the Right General has done the same.

庾征西翼書，少時與右軍齊名，右軍後進，庾猶不分，在荊州與都下人書云：『小兒輩賤家雞，皆學逸少書，須吾下，當比之。』 Western campaigning general Yu Yi—in his youth he stood even with the Right General; the Right General later outpaced him, yet Yu would still not yield. From Jingzhou he wrote someone in the capital: "Every wretched barnyard fowl among the young imitates Yi Shao's hand. Wait until I come down—then they may be compared."

張翼，王右軍自書表，晉穆帝令翼寫題後答，右軍當時不別，久後方悟，云『小人幾欲亂真』。 Zhang Yi: when the Right General Wang drafted a memorial himself, Emperor Mu of Jin had Yi copy it and pen the heading on the reply; at the time the Right General could not tell which was which; only much later did he see through it and say, "The little man nearly turned truth upside down."

郗愔章草亞於右軍。 Xi Kai's draft clerical stood beneath the Right General's.

桓玄自謂右軍之流，論者以比孔琳之。 Huan Xuan called himself of the Right General's line; reviewers set him beside Kong Linzhi.

庾昕學右軍，亦欲亂真矣。」 Yu Xin trained on the Right General and likewise came close to passing for the real thing."

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 34Volume 34 Biographies 15: Yu Wanzhi, Liu Xiu, Shen Chong, Yu Gaozhi, Wang Chen · 1 passage

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元嘉世，羊欣受子敬正隸法，世共宗之，右軍之體微古，不復見貴。 Under Yuanjia, Yang Xin took up Zi Jing's standard clerical hand and the world bowed to it; the Right General's manner, a little old-fashioned, was no longer valued.

History of the Southern Dynasties, Chapter 54Volume 54 Biographies 44: Sons of Emperor Jianwen of Liang, Sons of Emperor Yuan of Liang · 1 passage

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帝重之，因賜王羲之書一卷。 The Emperor prized him and gave him a scroll of Wang Xizhi's writing.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 503Volume 503 Biographies 290: Yi Shu Er · 1 passage

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王獻之七、八歲時學書，右軍從旁掣其筆不得，即謂此法。 When Wang Xianzhi was seven or eight and learning calligraphy, Wang Xizhi tried to pull the brush away from beside him and could not—this is that very method.

Book of Song, Chapter 92Volume 92 Biographies 52: Liang Li · 1 passage

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悅字少明，晉右將軍羲之曾孫也。 Yue, courtesy name Shaoming, was a great-grandson of Wang Xizhi, Right General of Jin.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 40Volume 40 Miscellaneous Biographies 20: Li Maozhen, Han Jian, Li Renfu, Han Xun, Yang Chongben, Gao Wanxing, Wen Tao · 1 passage

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韜在鎮七年，唐諸陵在其境內者，悉發掘之，取其所藏金寶，而昭陵最固，韜從埏道下，見宮室制度閎麗，不異人間，中為正寢，東西廂列石床，床上石函中為鐵匣，悉藏前世圖書，鐘、王筆跡，紙墨如新，韜悉取之，遂傳人間，惟乾陵風雨不可發。 Seven years he ruled that land. Every Tang imperial tomb in his circuit he plundered for its gold—but Zhaoling resisted him longest. He entered by the spirit tunnel and found halls as splendid as any palace: a central chamber, side rooms with stone couches, iron caskets within stone boxes holding ancient books and the calligraphy of Zhong Yao and Wang Xizhi, ink and paper fresh as the day they were laid in. He took everything. Only at Qianling did wind and rain turn his men back.

History of Yuan, Chapter 187Volume 187 Biographies 74: Wugusunliangzhen, Jia Lu, Lu Luceng, Gong Shitai, Zhou Boqi, Wu Dang · 1 passage

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及摹王羲之所書蘭亭序、智永所書千文，刻石閣中。 and to copy Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Orchid Pavilion and Zhiyong's Thousand-Character Classic for carving in stone within the pavilion.