Wang Xizhi, known as the "Book Sage", is the most famous calligrapher in China. But his true identity is shocking. Let's take a look at his "political resume": the secretary-equivalent to the director of the National Library and the secretariat of Jiangzhou-is equivalent to the governor of Jiangxi today (Jiangzhou in the Eastern Jin Dynasty is most of Jiangxi), equivalent to the commander of the military region, and the highest position is the right general, equivalent to the vice chairman of the State Military Commission.
His family is Wang Langya in Nirvana in Fire and one of the four great families in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Wang Langya was in power for some time in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. At the same time, due to Wang Xizhi's outstanding military talent, he served as commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition, and later served as general Ningyuan and right general. Lanting Grand Ceremony was held in Yonghe for nine years, which was the period when the Eastern Jin Dynasty suffered from internal troubles and foreign invasion, and the frontline wars continued. Huiji and other places under the jurisdiction of Wang Xizhi have been in drought for years.
Wang Xizhi's position benefited from the support of Tang Taizong in previous dynasties. If the supporters were Premier Wei Zhi or other scholars, would his position still be like this? In fact, previous calligraphers, such as Zhang Zhi, Zhong You and Suo Jing, all had better titles than him.
Chen Chuanxi, an art history researcher, has a point, and I agree. He said, "Calligraphy has never been a profession". At least, in the history of ancient calligraphy, there is hardly a professional calligrapher like today. Most of the "ancient calligraphers" who are familiar with today do not take calligraphy as their main business, but regard it as their lifelong pursuit goal, which is quite different from those who flaunt "being born for calligraphy" and walk the rivers and lakes.