Calligraphy Appreciation Yu Shinan, Chu Suiliang, Mi Fu, Zhao Mengfu, Dong Qichang, Wang Duo, Wang Chong, Wen Zhengming, Tang Bohu And Others Come To "Orchid Pavilion Preface"!

28/05/2023 79 Views

On the third day of March in the ninth year of Yonghe (AD 353) of Emperor Mu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Wang Xizhi, Xie An, Sun Chuo and other 41 top military and political officials of the Jin Dynasty were doing a wedding ceremony at Lanting (xì) in Shanyin (today's Shaoxing) to discuss national affairs. , each had poems, which were compiled into "Lanting Collection". Wang Xizhi wrote a manuscript preface for it, which was called "Preface to Lanting Collection".

The preface describes the beauty of the mountains and rivers around Lanting and the joy of the party, expressing the author's feeling that good times do not last long and life and death are impermanent. The text of the Dharma calligraphy passed down from generation to generation has a total of 28 lines and 324 words. The composition, structure and writing style are all perfect. It was his proud work when he was fifty years old. Later generations commented that "Youjun's font is a change from the ancient method. Its majestic and elegant style comes from nature, so it is regarded as a follower in ancient and modern times."

Therefore, calligraphers of all dynasties have praised "Lanting Preface" as "the best running script in the world". Among the extant Tang Dynasty ink imitations, the "Shenlong Edition" is the best. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Feng Chengsu had a gold seal, so it is called "Lanting Shenlong Edition". This edition is a fine copy, with brushwork, ink style, style, and charm all reflected, and is recognized as such. It is considered to be the best copy; among the stone carvings, the "Dingwu version" is preferred. After Guo Moruo's research, he believed that the second half of the "Lanting Preface" that was passed down was gratuitous and had no similarities with Wang Xizhi's thoughts. The style of the calligraphy was also different from the epitaphs of the Wang family in the Eastern Jin Dynasty that had been unearthed in recent years, and he was suspected to have been forged by the Sui and Tang Dynasties. But there are also those who disagree with it.

Copies of the Preface to Lanting in the Past Dynasties

【Feng Chengsulin】