Why did Wang Xizhi write a bamboo fan for the old lady?

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 Li, Cao, Kai and Xing, carefully studying the shape, imitating the shape with his heart, learning from others' strengths, preparing everything in one furnace, getting rid of the style of writing in Han and Wei Dynasties, and becoming a family of his own, which has far-reaching influence.