Chapter 30 121 Wang Xizhi writes for goose

In the Eastern Jin Dynasty when "kings and horses share the world", the Wang family was a high-ranking gentry.The children of Wang Dao and Wang Dun's family have all become officials, big or small. Most of them are mediocre bureaucrats, but among them, there is also a famous calligrapher in the history of our country.He is Wang Xizhi (xi sound xi). Wang Xizhi loved writing since he was a child.It is said that when he usually walks, he also uses his fingers to practice calligraphy at any time. After a long time, even his clothes are scratched.After diligent study and practice, Wang Xizhi's calligraphy has reached a very high level.

Because he was born in a noble family, and because of his outstanding talent, all ministers and ministers in the court recommended him to be an official.He has been a governor and a general of the Youjun (people also call him Wang Youjun).Later, he became an official in Kuaiji County.He didn't like to live in the bustling capital, but he liked the beautiful scenery of Kuaiji very much. Whenever he was free, he would visit the mountains and rivers with his friends.Once, Wang Xizhi and his friends held a banquet at Lanting in Shanyin, Kuaiji County.Everyone was drinking and writing poems at the same time.Finally, Wang Xizhi wrote an article to commemorate the banquet on the spot, which is the famous "Preface to the Collection of Lanting".The "Lanting Collection Preface" written by Wang Xizhi himself has always been regarded as a treasure of Chinese calligraphy art, but unfortunately its original work has been lost.

Wang Xizhi's calligraphy became more and more famous.People at that time regarded his writing as treasures.It is said that once, he went to his disciple's home, and the disciple received him very warmly.He sat next to a new desk and saw that the surface of the desk was smooth and clean, which aroused his interest in writing and asked his disciples to bring pens and ink. The student was so happy that he immediately brought the pen and ink to Wang Xizhi.Wang Xizhi wrote a few lines on some cases, kept them as a souvenir, and went back. After a few days, the disciple went out on business.His father went into the study to tidy up. When he saw that the new table was stained with ink, he scraped off the words with a knife.When the disciples came back, the handwriting on the cases had disappeared.The disciple was troubled by this matter for several days.

Another time, Wang Xizhi went to a village.An old woman was selling a basket of hexagonal bamboo fans at a fair.That kind of bamboo fan is very simple, without any decorations, and cannot attract the interest of passers-by. It seems that it cannot be sold, and the old woman is very anxious. Seeing this situation, Wang Xizhi sympathized with the old woman very much, so he went up to her and said, "Your bamboo fan has neither pictures nor words on it, so of course it can't be sold. How about I inscribe it for you?" The old lady didn't know Wang Xizhi, so seeing how enthusiastic he was, she gave him the bamboo fan to write.

Wang Xizhi picked up a pen and wrote five characters on each fan, and then returned it to the old woman.The old lady was illiterate, and felt that his writing was very sloppy, which made her very unhappy. Wang Xizhi comforted her and said, "Don't worry. Just tell the person who bought the fan that it was written by Wang Youjun." When Wang Xizhi left, the old woman did as he said.People at the fair saw that it was really Wang Youjun's calligraphy, and they rushed to buy it.A basket of bamboo fans was sold out immediately. Many artists have their own hobbies, some love to grow flowers, some love to raise birds.But Wang Xizhi has his special hobbies.No matter where there is a good goose, he is interested in seeing it, or buying it back to enjoy.

There was a Taoist priest in Shanyin who wanted Wang Xizhi to write a volume for him.But he knew that Wang Xizhi was not willing to copy scriptures for others easily.Later, he found out that Wang Xizhi liked white geese, so he specially raised a batch of good geese. Wang Xizhi heard that the Taoist family had a good goose, so he really went to see it.When he approached the Taoist house, he saw a flock of geese floating leisurely on the water in the river. Their snow-white feathers set against the tall red roof, which was really cute. Wang Xizhi looked around by the river and couldn't bear to leave, so he sent someone to find the Taoist priest and asked to sell the geese to him.

The Taoist said with a smile: "Since the prince likes it so much, I will give you all the geese without spending any money. But I have one request, that is, please write a scripture for me." Without hesitation, Wang Xizhi copied a scripture for the Taoist priest, and Wang Xizhi took the geese back.