Dien vien wang xizhi biography

Many consider calligraphy to be China’s supreme art.

And its recognised master is Wang Xizhi( – AD) (pronounced &#;wang she-jrrr&#;).

He is to Chinese calligraphy what Shakespeare is to poetry and Da Vinci is to painting.

Today, he is often referred to as &#;the calligraphy sage&#; (书圣).

Let’s take a closer look at his life and work.

Family background and early life

Wang Xizhi (王羲之 [Wáng Xīzhī]), courtesy name Yishao (逸少), was born in Langya (today’s Linyi, Shandong Province) during the Western Jin dynasty ( AD – AD).

He came from an elite family of officials and army generals connected (by marriage) to the royal family.

His paternal grandfather, Wang Zheng, had served in the role of Xiangshu lang – a type of high imperial official. 

And his politican father, Wang Kuang, had suggested the location for the Eastern Jin’s ( – AD) capital, Jiankang (modern day Nanjing), once the Western Jin state had collapsed.

Wang Kuan Wang Xizhi - Wikipedia GECAG