Wang Xianzhi (王獻之)

Overview

Wang Xianzhi was a Calligrapher and Official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Wang Zijing	王子敬	Wáng Zǐjìng
Courtesy name	Zi Jing	子敬	Zǐjìng
Posthumous name	Xian	憲	Xian

Life and dates

Death

AD 376 to AD 396 未幾，獻之卒……月餘亦卒
Died after critical illness
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 239
AD 385 to AD 386 獻之遇疾
Place Context in office
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 295

Age

7
Age End 8 · Reckoning Sui · Context learning calligraphy
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
seven or eight years
Source Text 七八歲時
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 267
several years old
Source Text 年數歲
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 254

Attested activity

AD 345 to AD 361 七八歲時學書
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 267
AD 381 不疑初為烏程令，欣時年十二，時王
Directly stated · Book of Song 62, passage 8
AD 365 to AD 386 其爲左丞
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 122
AD 385 及安薨
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 345-346
AD 360 to AD 396 嘗與兄徽之、操之俱詣謝安
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 258
AD 376 to AD 396 太元中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 281, 291

Show 11 more source-backed claims

AD 344 to AD 386 子敬之書
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 197
AD 376 to AD 396 未幾，獻之卒……月餘亦卒
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 235, 239
AD 344 to AD 386 東晉
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 178
AD 344 to AD 386 獻之
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 121, passage 57
AD 344 to AD 386 獻之有父風（東晉）
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 329-334
AD 385 to AD 386 獻之遇疾
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 292, 295
AD 360 to AD 386 王子敬
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 154
AD 344 to AD 386 王獻之…已入列傳
Derived from the source · Book of Jin 93, passage 22
AD 351 to AD 352 王獻之七、八歲時
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
AD 370 to AD 386 王獻之善書，爲吳興郡
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 33
AD 370 to AD 386 與弟獻之共讀
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 232

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Wang Zhenzhi (王楨之)
paternal uncle 叔 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 245, 247
Child of Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
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
Sibling of Wang Ningzhi (王凝之)
brother 子 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passages 204, 232
Sibling of Wang Xuanzhi (王玄之)
brother 子 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passages 205, 232
Sibling of Wang Caozhi (王操之)
elder brother 兄 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 258
Sibling of Elder brother of Wang Xianzhi (兄)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passage 297
Parent of Empress Anxi (安僖皇后)
empress's father 後父
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 296
Spouse of Former wife of Wang Xianzhi (前妻)
first wife 前妻 · Divorced
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 293-294
Parent of Wang Jingzhi (靜之)
heir 嗣 · Adoptive parentage
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 297
Spouse of Princess of Xin'an (新安公主)
married 尚 · Marriage
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 270
Child of Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
son 子
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 121, passage 57
Sibling of Wang Huizhi (王徽之)
younger brother 弟 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 236, 258
Sibling of Wang Huizhi (王徽之)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 232

Kinship Role sons · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 297

Key source chapters

Career and standing

calligrapher and painter 工草隸，善丹青
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 266
Administrator of Wuxing 吳興太守
AD 376 to AD 396 太元中 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 291
General Who Establishes Might 建威將軍
AD 376 to AD 396 太元中 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 291
Palace Secretary 中書令
AD 376 to AD 396 太元中 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 291
chief clerk 長史
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 279
Gentleman of the Palace Library 秘書郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 270

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provincial chief clerk 州主簿
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 270
administrator of Wu commandery 吳興郡
AD 370 to AD 386 王獻之善書，爲吳興郡 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 33
chief clerk 長史
Held
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 280
Governor of Wuxing 吳興太守
Held
Directly stated · Book of Song 62, passage 8
Left Assistant 左丞
Held
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 122
Grand Master of Splendid Happiness 光祿大夫
AD 396 安僖皇后立 · Posthumously awarded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 296
Grand Steward 太宰
AD 396 安僖皇后立 · Posthumously awarded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 296
Palace Attendant 侍中
AD 396 安僖皇后立 · Posthumously awarded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 296
Specially Advanced 特進
AD 396 安僖皇后立 · Posthumously awarded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 296
Palace Library aide 丞
Transferred
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 270
posthumous title Xian 諡憲
AD 396 安僖皇后立 · Granted
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 296
Entered
Imperial son in law
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 270

Places and affiliations

Polity Eastern Jin 東晉 · Relation Active in
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
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 Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 154; Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 122
Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Associated with
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passages 232, 295, 345
Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Lived under
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passage 329

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Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 270, 291
Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 93, passage 22
AD 376 to AD 396 太元中
At Wuxing 吳興 · Relation Posted to
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 291
At Wu commandery 吳興郡 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 33
At Wu commandery 吳郡 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 271

Learning and skills

Subject calligraphy 書 · Relation Studied
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 267
Belief Daoist confession practice 道家法 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 292
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level canonical comparison
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 197
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level canonical
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passages 154, 159
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level charming-but-weaker-than-father
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 298
Skill versed in court regulations 習達朝章 · Level master-of-recent-times
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 122

Show 6 more source-backed claims

Skill cursive and clerical script 草隸 · Level renowned
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 266
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 33
Skill painting 丹青 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 266
Skill orthodox clerical method 正隸法 · Level source-of-school
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 178
Skill calligraphy 書 · Level strong-childhood-grip
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
Skill calligraphy 書
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 329-331

Works and attributed material

Eulogies to High-Minded Men 高士傳贊
Relation Reader
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 232
arrayed biographies 列傳
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 22
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Xiaowu (孝武帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 346-354
Speech · Assessor · With Jing Dan (井丹) · Paraphrased · Mode named-source-report Speaker Wang Xianzhi (王獻之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 232
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 284-285, 288
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 239, 254, 256, 264, 290, 293; Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 159

Events and relationships

Addressed thieves
Crime · Victim
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 263-265
Argued posthumous honors
Political · Advocate · With Xie An (安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 345
Calmly had attendants help him out
Disaster · Evacuating
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 261-262
Commented on chupu
Personal · Observer
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 254
Daoist confession inquiry
Religious · Subject
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 292-293
Fell critically ill
AD 376 to AD 396 未幾，獻之卒……月餘亦卒 · Medical · Patient · With Wang Huizhi (王徽之)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 235

Show 20 more source-backed claims

Fell ill
Medical · Patient
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 292
Held brush immovably
Anecdote · Student · With Wang Xizhi (王羲之) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Liang Yan (梁巘)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 73
Impeached Wang Meng
Legal · Accuser · With Wang Meng (王濛)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 122
Left in anger
Personal · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 256-257
Practiced calligraphy
Scholarly · Student · With Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 267
Refused plaque inscription
Refusal · Refuser · With Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 284, 286
Toured garden
Visit · Uninvited guest · With Gu Piqiang (顧辟彊) · At Wu commandery 吳郡
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 271-273
Turned blot into dappled cow
Artistic · Painter · With Huan Wen (桓溫)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 269
Visited
Visit · Visitor · With Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 258
Wrote large wall characters
Artistic · Calligrapher
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 268
Family · Divorcing spouse · With Former wife of Wang Xianzhi (前妻)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 293
Relation Compared with · Person Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 197
Relation Impeached · Person Wang Meng (王濛)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 122
Relation Teacher of · Person Yang Xin (羊欣)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passages 168, 170
Relation Compared with · Person Liu Tan (劉真長)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 256
Relation Teacher of · Person Qiu Daohu (丘道護)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 170
Relation Compared with · Person Xun Can (荀奉倩)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 256
Relation Collaborated with · Person Xu Miao (徐邈)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 345
Relation Subordinate of · Person Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 279-280
Relation Senior kinsman of · Person Wang Min (王珉)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 159

Assessments and attributes

Assessment admired Jing Dan's purity · With Jing Dan (井丹) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Wang Xianzhi (王獻之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 232
Assessment Although he has his father's style, he has no fresh ingenuity. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 329
Assessment calligraphy does not match Yishao · Mode speech Speaker Gaozu of Liang (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 197
Assessment calligraphy-less-vigorous-than-father-but-charming · Mode named-source-report Source Work contemporary critics
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 298
Assessment calm in a sudden fire · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 262
Assessment celebrated from boyhood; proud, unrestrained, and the crown of contemporary elegance · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 253

Show 12 more source-backed claims

Assessment deeply admired and loved · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 279
Assessment greatly capable at large-character calligraphy · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 268
Assessment His brush traces are constrained, like a starving bondservant in a strict household: tethered, lean, and unfree. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 331, 333
Assessment His reputation exceeds his reality. · Mode historian-judgment
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 80, passage 339
Assessment master of recent times in court regulations · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Lu Cheng (陸澄)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 122
Assessment paragon of his age · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Wang Zhenzhi (王楨之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 247
Assessment remained loftily unconcerned after expulsion · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 278
Assessment The momentum of his characters is sparse and thin, like a withered tree in deep winter. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 330, 332
Assessment The two faults together are a sickness of brush and ink. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 334
Assessment the youngest is best, because a good man's words are few · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Xie An (謝安)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 259-260
Item dark felt mat, a family heirloom 氈青 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 264
Item zither 琴 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 239