Why did Wang Xizhi write an inscription for the old woman?

It is said that on one occasion, Wang Xizhi saw an old woman carrying a basket of hexagonal bamboo fans in a collection to sell fans, and she never sold them. She went up to her and said, "Of course, you can't sell this bamboo fan because there are no pictures or words on it. How about I write an inscription for you? "

Wang Xizhi took a pen and wrote five words on each fan. He gave it back to the old woman, who couldn't read, and felt that it was scribbled and unhappy. Wang Xizhi comforted her and said, "Don't worry, tell the person who bought the fan that this was written by Wang Youjun." As soon as Wang Xizhi left, the old woman did as he said. When people in the collection saw that it was really Wang Youjun's calligraphy, they all rushed to buy it, and a bamboo fan sold out immediately.

Extended data

Wang Xizhi loved calligraphy since childhood and was enlightened by his father Wang Kuang and his uncle Wang Biao. He was a good book at the age of seven. At the age of twelve, he stole the pen theory of the previous generation from his father's pillow. Wang Kuang's good deeds and official letters; Wang Xun is good at painting and calligraphy.

Wang Xizhi studied under Mrs. Wei in his early years. Wei Shuo, who studied under Zhong You, inherited his method brilliantly. She taught Wang Xizhi the method of Zhong You, the method of learning calligraphy in Wei Dynasty, and her own calligraphy style and method.

Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Collection of Lanting is highly praised by calligraphers of all ages and is known as "the best running script in the world". Wang Jian is good at following the laws of reason, grass, model and behavior. He carefully studied his body, imitated his heart and chased his hand, learned from others, prepared his body and melted into a furnace. He got rid of the style of writing in Han and Wei dynasties and became a family of his own, with far-reaching influence.