王羲之（303年—361年） ，字逸少，琅琊临沂（今山东省临沂市）人。善于书法，兼善隶、草、楷、行各体，精研体势，心摹手追，广采众长，备精诸体，冶于一炉，摆脱汉魏笔风，自成一家，影响深远。风格平和自然，笔势委婉含蓄，遒美健秀。在书法史上，与钟繇并称”钟王”，与其子王献之合称“二王”。李志敏评价：“王羲之的书法既表现以老庄哲学为基础的简淡玄远，又表现以儒家的中庸之道为基础的冲和。”
Wang Xizhi (303-361 AD), also known as Yishao, was born in Linyi, Langya (now Linyi City, Shandong Province). Skilled in calligraphy, proficient in various styles such as clerical, cursive, regular script, and cursive script, with a deep understanding of the body’s movements and a keen sense of imitation. Widely drawing on the strengths of others, preparing and refining various styles, blending them into one furnace, breaking away from the Han and Wei styles, and establishing a unique style with profound influence. The style is calm and natural, with gentle and subtle strokes, graceful and healthy. In the history of calligraphy, he was known as the “King of Zhong” along with Zhong Yao, and together with his son Wang Xianzhi, they were called the “Two Kings”. Li Zhimin commented, “Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy expresses both simplicity, simplicity, and profundity based on the philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi, as well as harmony based on the Confucian doctrine of the mean
The Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection “is a representative work of Wang Xizhi and is known as the” number one cursive script in the world “.
This work was created on March 3, 353 AD, in the ninth year of Yonghe reign of Emperor Mu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Wang Xizhi, along with 41 high-ranking military and political officials such as Xie An and Sun Chuo, were at Lanting in Shanyin (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang) to “repair silk”. At the meeting, each person wrote a poem, and Wang Xizhi wrote this preface manuscript for their poem. The full text consists of 28 lines and 324 words, narrating the beauty of the mountains and waters around Lanting and the joy of gatherings, while also expressing the author’s feelings about the impermanence of life and death.
王羲之·《兰亭》
仰视碧天际，俯瞰禄水滨。
寥阒无厓观，寓目理自陈。
大矣造化工，万殊莫不均。
群籁虽参差，适我无非新。
Orchid Pavilion
Wang His-chih
Looking up: blue sky’s end.
Looking down: green water’s brim.
Deep solitude: rimless view.
Before the eyes, a Pattern displays itself.
Immense, Transformation!
A million differences, none out of tune.
Pipings all variegated:
What fits me, none strange.
（Wai-lim Yip 译）
