K'uai-hsueh Shih-ch'ing
T'ieh
Wang Hsi-chih (ca. A.D. 307-
365)
Chin Dynasty 
Ink on paper. Semi-cursive 
script. Album leaf. 
23.0 x 14.8cm
     Wang Hsi-chih, whose 
style name was I-shao, was 
a native of Lin-i in Shantung 
province.  A precocious 
youth, he later held several 
high military posts, attaining 
the rank of General of the 
Right.  It is said he would 
practice calligraphy near a 
pool and was accustomed to 
washing his brush in its 
water; eventually the pool
turned black with his ink.
He is revered as the 
patriarch of calligraphy 
and established calligraphy
as one of the loftiest of
all artistic pursuits in
Chinese culture.