Wang Xizhi's calligraphy

[bhchao]

Has anyone heard of the story of how Record of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering ended up being in the hands of Tang Taizong?

Calligraphy was thought to be indicative of a person's character and feelings. The strength, balance, and flow of the strokes were believed to convey the calligrapher's moral and psychological makeup, as well as his emotions. Tang dynasty examinations heavily tested a person's calligraphy as a criteria for assigning posts in the civil service.

A person who wanted to master the art of calligraphy would copy the works of previous masters, analyze them, and then develop styles of their own.

Taizong was a big fan of calligraphy. He wanted to find Wang Xizhi's masterpiece, written in 353AD. Three times he sent emissaries to request it from Biancai, an elderly monk living in a monastery in the south who was reputed to have possession of it. But each time Biancai said that it had not survived the wars. Finally Taizong thought of another plan and sent Xiao Yi, a grandson of one of the last southern monarches, to request it from Biancai. Xiao Yi appeared to Biancai dressed up as a Confucian scholar to give the false impression that he was just an ordinary scholar not related to the central government. The two of them drank, played chess, wrote poetry, and got along very well.

After a series of visits, Xiao Yi brought out a painting to show Biancai, and during a discussion, told him that he possessed calligraphy by Wang Xizhi. Biancai asked him to bring the pieces the next day, and when he did, Biancai commented "These are authentic but not of the first rank. I happen to have a truly exceptional work, the original of the Orchid Pavilion manuscript." Xiao Yi feigned disbelief, so the next day Biancai took his treasure out of hiding and showed before Xiao Yi's eyes the original Orchid Pavilion. Xiao Yi purposely said that it was a fake, and the two of them got into a heated argument. Irritated, Biancai failed to put it away before heading off to a monastic ritual. Xiao Yi took the opportunity, snatched Orchid Pavilion, and rode off.

Taizong was overjoyed to get it and rewarded Xiao Yi by promoting him to a five rank position, and giving him precious objects of gold and silver, a town mansion, a country estate, and two fine horses from the imperial stable. Taizong wanted to punish Biancai for being so miserly, but instead let it go by sending the monk grain and silk, which the monk used to help build himself a pagoda.

Taizong had many copies of Orchid Pavilion made. To make the copies, the calligraphy was carefully traced, and then carved on a stone from which copies could be made. He treasured the original so much that it was interred with him in his grave.

[skylee]

又騙又偷才升了個五品官(所謂賺)，不值嘛 ...

但是如果辦不好差事，可能小命也不保，所以也不能怪他 ...

《蕭翼賺蘭亭圖》 唐　閻立本

[skylee]

And the story shows that Tang Taizong was an emperor of a different kind. He could have just raided the monk's place and confiscated anything he wanted. And he could have punished him after he got the writing. But he chose not to.

[bhchao]

Having Tang Taizong as one's emperor back then would be a lucky privilege indeed.

Before the events of 玄武門之變, Weizheng suggested to Li Shimin's brother, Li Jiancheng, to do away with Li Shimin.

After the success of 玄武門之變, Taizong scolded Weizheng for his former loyalty to Li Jiancheng and for his constant advice in killing Taizong.

But instead of punishing Weizheng, Taizong rewarded him by offering him the position of prime minister within his own government. The decision turned out to be very wise because Weizheng proved to be an indispensable prime minister who was so frank and straightforward with his monarch, often to the point of bluntness.

During the Zhenguan reign, the two would get into so many heated arguments that Taizong would be fuming with anger. On one occasion, he threatened to behead Weizheng without much ado, but his empress 長孫氏 calmed things down. Taizong eventually came around to seeing the wisdom of Weizheng's words.

This should be in the history section as well.

[skylee]

I like his brother-in-law's name - 長孫無忌, very exotic, xianbei ren ...

[bhchao]

Wang Xizhi's calligraphy (Preface to the Orchid Pavillion Manuscript) dated 353AD, Eastern Jin dynasty

李世民's calligraphy (Encomium on the Warm Springs) dated 628AD, 貞觀之治 of the Tang dynasty