Wang Xizhi and Sichuan

Tang Lin

Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences

Abstract: In the history of Chinese calligraphy, Wang Xizhi (王羲之) was one of the most well-known calligraphers in China and was traditionally referred to as the Sage of Calligraphy. Together with another great calligrapher, Zhong Yao (钟繇), they were referred to as “Zhong Wang.” Wang Xizhi and his son Wang Xianzhi (王献之)were called the “Two Wangs” (two icons) of calligraphy. Wang Xizhi never visited the Bashu region in his life, but there are some traces of the area of Shu (蜀, in present-day Sichuan province) in the Shiqi Tie (十七帖, Seventeen Exemplars), which is one of the masterpieces of Wang Xizhi’s cursive scripts. The focus of this paper is not on the art of calligraphy in Shiqi Tie, but rather on the relationship between Wang Xizhi and Sichuan through his correspondence with Zhou Fu (周抚), the prefectural governor of Yizhou at the time. Why was Wang Xizhi so interested in Sichuan historical figures such as Yan Junping (严君平), Sima Xiangru (司马相如), Yang Ziyun (扬子云) (also known as Yang Xiong, [扬雄]) and Qiao Zhou (谯周)? Why did he pay so much attention to the cities and towns of Chengdu in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), the schools of the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220) in the area of Shu, the murals of the Han Dynasty, salt wells in Sichuan, as well as other sceneries and historical sites in Shu? Why was he so eager to visit Shu and considered “climbing Wenling (Min Mountains) and Emei Mountain” as a monumental event? These are the questions this paper intends to explore. This is by far the most comprehensive and detailed article on Wang Xizhi’s relationship with Sichuan. In particular, his calligraphic works about significant historical figures, names of places, and heritage sites in Sichuan are very precious, such as Chengdu city (Chengdu, 成都), Shu County (Shujun, 蜀郡), Emei (峨眉), Yang Xiong, Sima Xiangru, ancient gas well (huojing, 火井). These are authentic calligraphy about Sichuan by famous artists that have been handed down to today and which are considered national treasures and a treasure trove of art for establishing Sichuan’s cultural brands and mining its cultural resources.

Keywords: Wang Xizhi, Sichuan, historical figures, historical sites

Wang Xizhi (AD 321-379, or AD 303-361), also named Yishao (逸少), was born in Linyi in Langya (present Linyi city in Shangdong province). He was a court minister during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420) and was known as the “Sage of Calligraphy.” During his career, he held various official positions. He served as court secretary, prefectural governor of Jiangzhou, and prefecture governor of Kuaiji. He was promoted progressively to the General of the Right Army, known as “Wang Youjun.” As a calligrapher, his workLantingji Xu(兰亭集序, the Preface to the Poems collected from the Orchid Povillion) is revered as the best running calligraphy in the world. He specialized in various styles of calligraphy:Li(隶, official-script styles),Cao(草, cursive hand),Kai(楷, regular script) andXing(行, running hand). In addition, he studied the features of different styles with great dedication and imitated them by heart. He was able to draw on the strengths of many others and eventually developed his own style, which had a profound impact on the development of calligraphy. In the history of Chinese calligraphy, Wang was peered with Zhong Yao, and they were referred to as “Zhong Wang.” Wang and his son Wang Xianzhi were called the “Two Wangs” (two icons) of calligraphy. He is one of the most well-known Chinese calligraphers and a prominent cultural icon of ancient China.

According to various historical documents, Wang Xizhi never visited the Shu area in his life. Then, what was his connection with Sichuan? Some clues can be found in Wang Xizhi’s calligraphic workShiqi Tie, which has been passed down through generations. The nameShiqi Tiecame from the opening of the first exemplarXi Sima Tie(郗司马帖), which wroteShiqi ri xian shu(十七日先书, on the seventeenth day).Shiqi Tieactually includes 29 pieces of correspondence, including 15 letters related to Sichuan, such asChengdu Tie(成都帖). These 15 letters by Wang Xizhi were written to Zhou Fu, the prefectural governor of Yizhou at the time. Wang Xizhi lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420), which was established by Sima Rui (司马睿), a relative of the Jin imperial family, after the relocation of the capital of the Empire. At that time, the prefectural-level government of Yizhou was located in Chengdu in Shu County (present Chengdu city). During his correspondence with Wang Xizhi, Zhou Fu was the highest governor of not only the Bashu region but also parts of Yunnan and Guizhou.

Zhou Fu (?-AD 365), also named Daohe (道和), was born in An’cheng, Runan (present Ru’nan County in Henan province). He was the son of Zhou Fang (周访) (AD 265-420), who was a famous general of Zhongxing in the Jin Dynasty. After Zhou Fang’s death, Zhou Fu inherited the position and joined the Grand Commander Huan Wen (桓温) to conquer Shu County and quell the rebellion. Later, he served as the prefectural governor of Yizhou and guarded Sichuan for 30 years, including 18 years in Chengdu. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420), Yizhou (now Chengdu) covered 10 counties. Its prefectural-level government was located in Chengdu county (now downtown Chengdu) and was once located in Fengjie, Chongqing. According to theDongxi Jin Yanyi(东西晋演义,

Romance of the Eastern and Western Jin Dynasties), Zhou Fu was very prestigious and benevolent during his tenure in Shu, and the people appreciated his virtue. Zhou Fu died in June of the third year of Xingning (AD 365) during the reign of Emperor Ai of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The Jin court appointed Zhou Chu (周楚), son of Zhou Fu, as the prefectural governor of Yizhou. Sima Xun (司马勋), the prefectural governor of Liangzhou in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, thought that no one could challenge him, so he revolted and attempted to take over the Bashu region but was defeated by Huan Wen’s army.

Wang Xizhi was from the prestigious Wang clan of Langya. The Wang clan of Langya was very prominent in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and was called “Wang Xie” together with the Xie family of Chen Jun (represented by Xie An [谢安]). In Liu Yuxi’s poem “Wuyi Lane (乌衣巷),” it says: “Where once the swallows knew the mansions of the great, they now to humbler homes would fly to nest and mate.” (旧时王谢堂前燕). The “Wang Xie” (the mansions of two noble clans) here refers to these two clans. Before Zhou Fu served as the prefectural governor of Yizhou, Zhou Fu had received help from the Wang clan of Langya several times. In the first year of Yongchang (AD 322), Wang Xizhi’s uncle Wang Dun (王敦), an outstanding founding minister, rebelled against the Jin family (known as Wang Dun’s Rebellion). Zhou Fu was his key subordinate. Following the failure of Wang Dun in the second year of Taining (AD 324), Zhou Fu and others fled into Xiyang and were exonerated because of their special relationship with the Wang clan of Langya. The court granted an amnesty in the third year of Taining. In the beginning of the Xianhe period (AD 326), Zhou Fu was appointed by Wang Gui, who was also Wang Xizhi’s uncle and the first Prime Minister of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Since then, he returned to the government and eventually became a high-level official in Yizhou.

It was probably during the frequent contact with the Wang clan of Langya that a deep friendship was established between Zhou Fu and Wang Xizhi. Their friendship was not interrupted by Zhou’s visit to Shu. On the contrary, it developed into the greetings and thoughts contained in the 15 letters from Wang Xizhi to Zhou Fu.

These 15 letters (included inShiqi Tie) contain 71 lines and a total of 597 words. According to Chen Youshan’s study. They are:Chengdu Tie(成都帖),Jiangtang Tie(讲堂帖, letter about a lecture hall),Yan Junping Tie(严君平帖),Qiaozhou Tie(谯周帖),Yanjing Tie(盐井帖, letter about the salt wells),Qiongzhu Zhang Tie(邛竹杖帖, letter about walking sticks made of bamboo from Qionglai),Tianshu Gao Tie(天鼠膏帖, letter about ointment made from wildcats or bats),Yaocao Tie(药草帖, letter about herbs),Qingli Tie(青李帖, letter about green plums),Zhanji Hutao Tie(旃罽胡桃帖, letter about wool fabrics and walnuts),Qingyan Tie(清晏帖, letter about peace and tranquility),Qishi Tie(七十帖, letter about being 70 years old),Shudu Tie(蜀都帖), andErnv Tie(儿女帖, letter about children) (Chen, 2014). Some of these 15 letters are related to the specialties of Sichuan at that time, such asQiongzhu ZhangandTianshu Gao. However, given the lack of systematic research on these specialties, very few studies have been conducted, so they are not discussed in this paper. This paper discusses the connections between Wang Xizhi and Sichuan from three aspects: Wang Xizhi and historical figures in Sichuan, Wang Xizhi and Sichuan sceneries, and Wang Xizhi’s yearn for Yizhou (Chengdu, Sichuan).

Shiqi Tieis a representative work of Wang Xizhi’s cursive calligraphy. This collection is blessed with free-flowing brushwork and an unrestrained spirit. It has been regarded as a classic of cursive calligraphy by calligraphers throughout the ages. In the words of Huang Bosi (黄伯思), a calligrapher and calligraphy theorist of the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279), it is the “dragon of calligraphy” (书中龙, supreme example of calligraphy). For generations, it has been regarded as a standard for cursive calligraphy. It was highly praised by many significant figures, such as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), the calligrapher Zhang Yanyuan (张彦远) of the Tang Dynasty, and the philosopher Zhu Xi (朱熹) of the Song Dynasty (Wang, 2018).

Yan Junping Tie by Wang Xizhi

Historical Figures in Sichuan

According to statistics, the historical figures of Sichuan mentioned inShiqi Tiewere all found inYan Junping Tie(严君平帖) andQiao Zhou Tie(谯周帖). Five significant figures were mentioned:Yan Junping,Sima Xiangru, Yang Ziyun, Qiao Zhou, and Qiao Xiu (谯秀) (Tang, 2021). So the question is: In what way were these five people in Shu so special that they attracted the attention of Wang Xizhi, who was thousands of miles away from them?

Yan Junping Tie

Yan Junping Tieby Wang Xizhi is a paper-based piece inCaocalligraphy (cursive script), with 12 lines and 14 characters. The meaning of this exemplar is clear at a glance. The original Chinese text of the question that Wang Xizhi asked Zhou Fu and its English translation are as follows.

严君平、司马相如、扬子云，皆有后否？

Do Yan Junping, Sima Xiangru, and Yang Ziyun all have descendants?

Yan Junping

Yan Junping (严君平 87 BC-AD 6 or AD 7), also named Zun (遵), was a famous thinker of the Han Dynasty and a native of Shu County (Chengdu) in the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 8). He used to live in seclusion in Jingyu Mountain in Pengxi County, Sichuan province, and sold divination in many places such as (present) Pi County, Chengdu, Pengzhou, Qionglai, Guanghan, and Mianzhu. He retired after the age of 50 and spent his time thereafter writing and teaching in Pingle Mountain, Pixian County. He died at the age of 95 and was buried in Pingle Mountain. He embraced the thoughts of Lao Tzu and Zhuang Zhou and used them to guide his thoughts and behaviors. He lived in seclusion in the city and was not distracted by gains and losses. These qualities were what Yan Junping was admired for, and what Wang Xizhi wanted to emulate. In the 10th volume ofHuayang Guozhi(华阳国志,Chronicles of Huayang), Xianxian Zhi (先贤志,Records of Sages), it reads:

著《指归》，为道书之宗。扬雄少师之，称其德......

[He] wroteZhi Gui[指归, a guide], [and] is a pioneering Taoist master. When Yang Xiong

was young, he acknowledged him as his teacher and praised him for his virtue.

Yan Junping’s ideology and lifestyle were particularly in tune with Wang Xizhi’s state of mind in his later years, which is probably the main reason why Wang Xizhi gave priority to Yan Junping. Significant works of Yan includeLaozi Zhi Gui(老子指归,A Guide to Laozi) andDao De Zhi Gui Lun(道德指归论,Ethical Theories and Moral Guidance). He was a great hermit of the Western Han Dynasty, an enlightened teacher of Yang Xiong, a Chinese philosopher, and the founder of Shu Studies.

The former residence of Yan Junping has been found in Qionglai, Pengzhou, Pidu, and other places in Chengdu today. Junping Street, built next to Chengdu People’s Park, was named in honor of Yan Junping.

Sima Xiangru

Sima Xiangru (179-117 BC), named Changqing, was born in Anhan County, Ba County (now Peng’an, Sichuan) in the Western Han Dynasty and grew up in Chengdu, Shu County (now Chengdu, Sichuan). He was a famous litterateur of the Han Dynasty. He was initially an aide of Liu Wu (刘武), Prince Xiao of Liang. After Liu Wu’s death, he returned to Shu, during which he ran off with a talented lady named Zhuo Wenjun (卓文君), leaving a beautiful love story for the centuries that followed. Later, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was so impressed by Sima Xiangru’sZixu Fu(子虚赋,Fu on Sir Vacuous) that he summoned him to the palace and pointed him as a court writer ofCiandFu. He was credited for his diplomatic trips to Qiong (邛) and Ze (笮). In his later years, he settled in Maoling (now Xingping city in Shaanxi province). Sima Xiangru was a representative writer of the Han Dynasty. HisFuworks mostly depicted the splendor of royal gardens and the joy of field hunting. His works were highly elaborated and rich in artistic expressions, which have been imitated by literati since the Han and Wei dynasties. He is a prominent figure in Chinese cultural and literary history. Because of his achievements in literature, Sima Xiangru was considered to be an important writer on par with Sima Qian (司马迁). InHan Wenxueshi Gangyao(汉文学史纲要,An Outline of the History of Han Literature), Lu Xun said:

武帝时文人，赋莫若司马相如，文莫若司马迁。

Of the literati at the time of Emperor Wu, the most talented composer ofFuwas Sima

Xiangru, and the most remarkable writer was Sima Qian.

Sima Xiangru was one of the second batch of top ten Sichuan historical figures. His former residence was located in Peng’an County, Sichuan. Today, places such as Qintai Road in Chengdu and Wenjun Well in Qionglai are both associated with Sima Xiangru. His romance with Zhuo Wenjun is one of the classics of Chinese love stories.

Yang Xiong

Yang Xiong (53 BC-AD 18), also named Zi Yun, was a well-known scholar and litterateur of the Han Dynasty. He was a native of Shu (蜀, modern Sichuan province), specifically the area of Pi (郫, modern Pi county, Chengdu). Some sources also suggest that he was from Shu, Mianzhu, or Qionglai. Since his childhood, Yang Xiong was a dedicated learner and was good at writing rhetoric. Most of his great works imitated the style of Sima Xiangru. He read widely and knew a lot of ancient and unusual characters, and was a cultural master with high prestige during his generation. He produced a great number of works. InHuayang Guozhi, it says:

以经莫大于《易》，故而作《太玄》；传莫大于《论语》，故作《法言》；史莫善于《苍颉》，故作《训篡》；箴誎莫美于《虞箴》，故作《州箴》；赋莫弘于《离骚》，故反屈原而广之；典莫正于《尔雅》，故作《方言》......

The most important scripture was theYi Jing(Book of Changes), so he composedTaixuan(Jing); The most significant biography wasLun Yu(The Analects of Confucius), so he wroteFa Yan(The Model Sayings); The complete collection of history wasCangjie Pian(The Three Chapters), so he wroteXun Cuan; The best collection of wise words of advice and admonition wasYu Zhen, so he wrote12 Zhou Zhen(Advice for States); The most impressiveFuwasLi Sao(The Lament), so he referred to Qu Yuan to promote his popularity; The most accurate dictionary wasErya, so he compiled a dictionary of regionalismsFangyan.

FaYancomprised thirteen volumes. One of the volumesXue Xing(学行,Learning and Virtue) was approximately 1,500 words long. This was a theoretical work on Chinese education that was much more popular than theXue Ji(学记,Record on the Subject of Education) during the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC). In addition toFa Yan, he also wroteFang Yan,Tai Xuan, andShu Wang Ben Ji(蜀王本纪,Biographies of the Kings of Ancient Shu). Among them, the 1,333-wordShu Wang Ben Jiwas the first historical book to record the history of Bashu in ancient times. In Liu Yuxi’s famousLou Shi Ming(陋室铭,An Epigraph for My Humble Home), it says, “the pavilion of Ziyun of West Shu” (xishu ziyun ting, 西蜀子云亭). Here, “Ziyun of West Shu” refers to Yang Xiong. Yang Xiong was the foundation ofDa Fu(long-formFu) of the all times. He is by far the most influential Sichuan thinker in history and was revered by later generations as Confucius of the Western Tao and Confucius of the Han Dynasty. He was one of the most famous thinkers of Confucianism in the Han Dynasty.

Along with Li Bing, Wu Zetian, and Li Bai, Yang Xiong is among the top 10 Sichuan historical figures. Today there are several memorial sites for him in Sichuan, such as the tomb of Yang Xiong in the area of Pi (Pidu District, Chengdu), Ziyun Pavilion in Xishan Area in Mianyang, and Ziyun Mountain in Qianwei County, Leshan.

Whether Yang Xiong had descendants has received a lot of attention, so I once wrote a paper on this topic titled: Was Yang Wujiu a descendant of Yang Xiong? And I believe that Yang Xiong had a descendant (Tang, 2021).

Qiao Zhou Tie by Wang Xizhi

Qiao Zhou Tie

Qiao Zhou Tieby Wang Xizhi is a paper-based piece inCaocalligraphy, with 13 lines and 27 characters. The original Chinese text and its English are shown beside:

云谯周有孙□，高尚不出，今为所在？其人有副此志？令人依依，足下具示。

I heard that Qiao Zhou had a grandson named Qiao (Xiu), who was a noble man and lived in seclusion. Where is he now? Is he really as unrestrained as people say he is, and devoted to nature? He sounds really admirable. I hope you can tell me more about him.

Two characters between Sun (孙) and Gao (高) are unrecognizable, so they are replaced by the symbol “□.” According to experts, this unrecognizable word is likely to be“ming xiu” (名秀, named Xiu).

Qiao Zhou

Qiao Zhou (AD 201-270), also named Yunnan (允南), was a native of Xichong State, the west of Ba (now Huaishu Town in Xichong, Sichuan). He was a famous Confucian scholar and historian in the Shu-Han Dynasty (AD 221-263), also known as “Confucius of Shu.” He was the teacher of Chen Shou (陈寿), the author ofSan Guo Zhi(三国志,Records of the Three Kingdoms).San Guo Zhi, together with Sima Qian’sShi Ji(史记,Records of the Grand Historian), Ban Gu’sHan Shu(汉书,Book of Han), and Fan Ye’sHou Han Shu(后汉书,Book of the Later Han), are known as the “First Four Histories.” He has a very high status among historians. In the first year of the Yan Xing period (AD 263), Wei invaded Shu from three directions. Qiao Zhou was granted the title of Neighborhood Marquis of Yangcheng for persuading Shu’s lord Liu Shan (刘禅) to surrender. Qiao Zhou was very far-sighted and persuaded Liu Shan to surrender at a critical moment, thus contributing to the whole state. At the fall of the Shu-Han Dynasty in 265, the total number of people in Shu-Han was only about one million, but the army had more than 100,000 soldiers, making such a heavy burden unbearable for the people. Qiao Zhou’s persuasion both avoided war and helped unify the state. Similar to his contemporaries Chen Shou and Chang Qu (常璩), Qiao Zhou was also a highly accomplished historian. He was very knowledgeable and made contributions to scripture, history, and astronomy.

As part of the culture of Bashu, “the fatalism in Shu” (tianshu zai shu, 天数在蜀) was widely recognized and had a significant impact on Chinese astronomy. He wrote extensively, and his representative works includeShu Ben Ji(蜀本纪,Notes on People in Shu) andthe Sanbaji (三巴記, Notes on the Three Ba Commanderies). These works, which recounted the historical and geographical stories of the area, had a great influence on the later compilation of local histories in Sichuan.

Today, in the Wanjuan Tower Scenic Area of the Scenic Spot of Xishan in Nanchong, there are the Qiao Zhou Memorial Temple and Qiao Zhou’s Tomb. The Qiao Zhou Memorial Temple is a popular place of interest in Nanchong. Qiao Zhou was a great minister of Shu-Han during the Three Kingdoms period that Sichuan people should especially remember.

Qiao Xiu

Qiao Xiu, also nam ed Yuan Yan, was the grandson of Qiao Zhou and a famous scholar in Shu. At the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, he knew that the world would be in chaos, so he planned not to interact with his friends and not to meet with relatives of any clans. Li Xiong, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, occupied Shu. Faced with a sincere invitation, even the greetings from Emperor Li, he did not respond. This is the famous story of “the emperor’s private visit to Qiao Xiu” in history. He often wore a deerskin hat and farmed in the mountains and forests in seclusion. Huan Wen, also named Ziyuan (子元), was the Great General of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420) who conquered the western area, as well as a poet and essayist of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In the third year of Yonghe under the reign of Emperor Mu of Jin (347), he led his troops and pacified Li Xiong, who was in Shu. After that, he stayed in Chengdu for 30 days. Knowing Qiao Xiu’s great talents and high reputation, Huan Wen submitted a “Recommendation for Qiao Xiu” to Emperor Mu, recommending Qiao Xiu to join the court. The court sent an ambassador to invite Qiao Xiu, hence the historical story of “Huan Wen’s recommendation for great talents.” When Fan Ben (范贲) and Xiao Jing (萧敬) were in rebellion, he took refuge in Dang Qu (in the northeast of Qu County, Sichuan) and was followed by hundreds of people in his village. He died in his 90s.

Qiao Xiu was well-known in later times. Li Shangyin once created a poem about Qiao Xiu, titled “Zitong Wang Changqing Shan Zhi Baxi Fuhuai Qiao Xiu” (梓潼望长卿山至巴西复怀谯秀,Looking for Qian Xiu from Changqing Mountain in Zitong to Baxi). It reads as follows:

梓潼不见马相如， I did not find Sima Xiangru in Zitong,

更欲南行问酒垆。 so I went to the south to ask about his whereabouts at liquor stores.

行到巴西觅谯秀， I went all the way to the west of Ba to look for Qiao Xiu in Xichong,

巴西唯是有寒芜。 but all I could see was desolation.

Li Shangyin (AD 813-AD 858) was a famous poet of the late Tang Dynasty. He and Du Mu (杜牧, AD 803-AD 852) were known as “Li-Du Jr,(Li Shangyin and Du Mu)” as compared to the Li-Du Sr., (Li Bai [李白, AD 701-AD 762] and Du Fu [杜甫, AD 712-AD 770]).

The letter from Zhou Fu to Wang Xizhi was long missing, so it was impossible to know how he replied to Wang Xizhi. However, based on Wang Xizhi’s two lettersYan Junping TieandQiao Zhou Tie, people can know of Yan Junping’s secluded life, Sima Xiangru’s literary talent, Yang Ziyun’s inner tranquility, Qiao Zhou’s knowledge and character, and Qiao Xiu’s seclusion and nobility. They were already famous in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and were models for future generations. Otherwise, it was unlikely that Wang Xizhi, who was a famous person in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, would have written to Zhou Fu specifically to ask about them or their descendants.

In the above two letters, Wang Xizhi wrote “Yan Junping,” “Sima Xiangru,” “Yang Ziyun” (Yang Xiong), and “Qiao Zhou.” These were the first time that they were written by a great calligrapher and have been handed down to this day.

Sichuan historical figures written by the Sage of Calligraphy.From left to right: Yan Junping, Sima Xiangru, Yang Ziyun and Qiao Zhou.

Sceneries and Historical Sites in Sichuan

According to statistics, the sceneries and historical sites in Sichuan mentioned inShiqi Tiewere all found in three letters:Chengdu Chengchi Tie(the Fortifications of Chengdu),Jiangtang Tie, andYanjing Tie(Tang, 2021). The Sichuan sceneries and historical sites mentioned include: the fortifications of Chengdu, the schools of the Han Dynasty in the area of Shu, the murals of the Han Dynasty, and the salt wells in Sichuan at the end of the Warring States Period. Then, more than 1,600 years ago, what was so special about them that they drew so much attention from Wang Xizhi, the sage of calligraphy, who particularly wrote a letter to Zhou Fu for a reply?

Chengdu Chengchi Tie by Wang Xizhi

Chengdu Chengchi Tieby Wang Xizhi is a paper-based piece inCaocalligraphy, with five lines and 48 characters. The original Chinese text and its English translation are shown below.

往在都，见诸葛颙，曾具问蜀中事，云：成都城池、门屋、楼观，皆是秦时司马错所修。令人远想慨然，为尔不？信具示，为欲广异闻。

[When I] was in the capital, [I] met Zhuge Yong and asked him about things [happened] in Shu. [He] said [that] the fortifications, gates, houses and buildings in Chengdu were all built by Sima Cuo in the Qin Dynasty. Is this true? Could you please tell me in detail so that I can know more about it?

In Wang Xizhi’s letter, the capital refers to the capital of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, i.e., Jiankang (now Nanjing). Zhuge Yong (诸葛颙) was the grandson of Zhuge Jin (诸葛瑾), the brother of Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮). Some sources suggest that it should be Zhuge Xian (诸葛显), because the characters “Yong (颙)” and “Xian (显)” are interchangeable in cursive script.

The fortifications of Chengdu in this case refer to the fortifications of Chengdu in the Qin Dynasty, which was related to a very significant event in the history of Bashu, namely the destruction of Bashu by Qin.

Sima Cuo was a famous general of Qin in the middle and late Warring States Period. He was the minister of Qin who advocated the invasion of Shu. InZhang Yi Liezhuan(张仪列传,Biography of Zhang Yi) ofShi Ji(Records of the Grand Historian), there is a passage that reads:

Chengdu Chengchi Tie by Wang Xizhi

取其地足以广国，得其财足以富民缮兵，不伤众而彼已服焉。

Getting their land is enough to expand the state; taking their wealth is enough to enrich the people; and repairing their troops without hurting them.

In 316 BC, King Huiwen of Qin ordered the generals of Qin, Sima Cuo, and Zhang Yi to enter Shu from the Shi Niu Road (later called the Jin Niu Road). In October, Shu was destroyed, followed by the fall of Ba, opening the territory for Qin’s unification of the Chinese states. After the collapse of Shu, many people entered Shu from Guanzhong and other places to consolidate their reign in Shu. As there were many people and few cities, five years later (311 BC), a new Qin city was built to the south of the former North inner city in Chengdu; a Piyi city was built to the west of Chengdu, and a Linqiong city was constructed to the south of Chengdu. Piyi city was located in the “cuckoo city” established by Du Yu. Piyi city was in the north of the present Pi County, and Linqiong city was in the northwest of the present Qionglai city. In this way, the two cities and Chengdu are in the same vertical and horizontal distance (100 km) to Chengdu, forming a tripartite structure, which looks like the Chinese character “品.” This structure is conducive to defense. The construction of Chengdu city has undergone years of testing. Even after more than 600 years (AD 347), after Huan Wen (the Great General of the Eastern Jin Dynasty) destroyed the Cheng-Han power in Shu, Huan Wen’s subordinate generals still said that they could see the walls built by Sima Cuo, showing the strong construction of the walls built back then.

It should be noted that the layout of the buildings and the city planning of Chengdu were mainly established by Zhang Ruo (张若). After the conquest of Shu by Qin, Zhang Ruo became the first prefecture governor of Shu County of Qin. After that, Zhang Ruo was reassigned to be the governor of Qianzhong County of Qin. He was replaced by Li Bing, a water conservancy expert, who accomplished the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. Zhang also presided over the resettlement of Qin immigrants into Shu. Zhang Yi brought the ideas of Qin’s urban planning to the development of Shu County, but he was not constrained by Qin’s laws. Instead, he humbly sought advice from local sages and built the city of Chengdu according to the geomantic features of the terrain. Sima Cuo was the first person who initiated and implemented the plan to conquer Shu. Considering his outstanding achievements, he was commonly mentioned when telling the history of Qin’s conquest of Sichuan. Wang Xizhi was also not an exception.

Jiangtang Tie by Wang Xizhi

Jiangtang Tie

Jiangtang Tieby Wang Xizhi is a paper-based piece inCaocalligraphy, with 16 lines and 49 characters. The original Chinese text and its English translation are shown beside.

知有汉时讲堂在，是汉何帝时立此？知画三皇五帝以来备有。画又精妙，甚可观也。彼有能画者不？因欲摹取，当可得不？信具告。

[I] heard that the lecture hall built in the Han Dynasty [in Yizhou] is still in existence. Which emperor of the Han Dynasty built [the lecture hall]? I heard that there are paintings about all kinds of deeds since the three sovereigns and five emperors. The paintings are exquisite and well worth seeing. If there is someone in Chengdu who can copy the paintings, I would like to ask him to do so. Would that be possible? Could you tell [me] more about the details?

This letter mainly mentions the lecture hall and murals of the Han Dynasty in Shu.

The Lecture Hall of Han

In Wang Xizhi’s letter, the two characters “jiang讲” and “tang堂” refer specifically to the lecture hall of the Han Dynasty in Shu. Before the reign of Emperor Jing of the Western Han Dynasty, the region of Shuzhong was still less-developed culturally. It was only after Wen Weng became the prefecture governor of Shu County that the culture of education began to flourish.

Wen Weng was appointed by the court as the prefecture governor of Shu County at the end of the reign of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (156-141 BC). According toShu Zhi(Shu Section) inHuayang Guozhi:

“文翁为蜀守......翁乃立学”

Wen Weng was appointed the governor of Shu County...He then built a school.

“立文学精舍、讲堂，作石室，一作玉室，在（成都）城南”。

[He] set up a school building for literature, a lecture hall, [which was] called a stone chamber or jade chamber, in the south (of Chengdu).

The lecture hall established by Wen Weng was built of stone, so it was called the “stone chamber”(shishi,石室). Because the school had a collection of books, so the chamber was built with stone for fire prevention. Due to the great influence of Wen Weng’s lecture hall in history, schools were established on the old site of the stone chamber in Chengdu in subsequent dynasties over 2000 years. The current Chengdu Shishi High School is located on the site of the former school run by Wen Weng. This is a rare example not only in China but also in the world. More information about Wen Weng’s stone chamber can be found in the bookExploring the Historical Town Houses of Chengdu, compiled by the Sichuan Culture and History Research Institute.

During the Han Dynasty, Wen Weng promoted the development of education and built the first government-run school, which was an important event in the history of Chinese education. This event also drove education in Sichuan and marked the beginnings of Shu Xue (studies of Shu), laying a solid foundation for its subsequent leading advances in the culture and socio-economy of Sichuan, as well as Chinese culture, education, science, and technology for over 1400 years (from the beginning of the Han Dynasty to the end of the Song Dynasty). Sichuan suffered many disasters during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, so these three dynasties were not taken into account.

Wen Weng was one of the second batch of top ten Sichuan historical figures.

Murals of Han

Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han, was the last emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. During his reign (AD 189-220), the prefectural governor of Yizhou ordered people to paint important figures on the walls of schools in Chengdu. The figures include Pan Gu, three sovereigns and five emperors, three generations of rulers and ministers, Confucius and 72 disciples (of Confucius). The court of the Han Dynasty attached great importance to the educational role of paintings. Therefore, these murals served the very obvious purpose of political edification in different ways: by writing about the achievements of ancient sages, by recognizing the talents of meritorious officials, and by praising the achievements of honest and bright officials. At that time, among the counties and states in China, Yizhou had the most murals of this kind. Murals from the classrooms in Chengdu became very famous in later times. The author ofThe Famous Paintings Through the Ages(lidai minghua ji, 历代名画记) was Zhang Yanyuan from the Tang Dynasty. He compared these murals to the murals in the palace of Emperor Ming of Han and highly praised them for their great significance.

图画者，有国之鸿宝，理乱之纪纲。是以汉明宫殿，赞兹粉绘之功；蜀都学堂，义存劝诫之道。

The paintings are great treasures for the state and the basic devices for maintaining disciplines. Considering these features, the portraits of meritorious ministers painted in the palace of Emperor Ming of the later Han Dynasty served many purposes that are unique to paintings, while the portraits of sages painted in the school (of Wen Weng) in Shu County were intended to be used for exhortations.

Unfortunately, all these murals from the classrooms in Chengdu have been lost in the mists of history. In Sichuan, the only remaining mural from the Han Dynasty is the “A Feast with the Jing Family” (Jingshi Yan Yin Tu, 荆氏宴饮图), which was only discovered in 2002 in the cliff tomb of Taliangzi in Zhongjiang, Sichuan (Tang, 2020).

At that time, it would have been very easy to copy these murals for his friend Wang Xizhi with the power of Zhou Fu. Unfortunately, it is impossible to know that now. However, Wang Xizhi’sJiangtang Tieprovides a very important piece of information to people: The paintings of Shu did not only become famous during the Tang and Song dynasties, as commonly said, but also several hundred years ago in the Eastern Jin dynasty. Wang Xizhi, the sage of calligraphy, used two characters “jingmiao”(精妙，exquisite) to describe the murals of the Han Dynasty that existed in Shu in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. This is an important piece of evidence for the development of painting in Sichuan during the Han Dynasty and is of great importance to the research on the history of painting in Chengdu, the history of Chengdu culture, and even the history of the culture of Sichuan today.

Yanjing Tie

Yanjing Tieis a paper-based piece inCaocalligraphy, with 13 lines and 20 characters. In this letter, Wang Xizhi asked Zhou Fu about salt wells. The original Chinese text and its English translation are shown below.

Yanjing Tie by Wang Xizhi

彼盐井、火井皆有不？足下目见不？为欲广异闻，具示。

Are there really salt or natural gas wells in Shu [in Yizhou]? Did you see them yourself? To broaden my knowledge, could you please tell me more about it?

The salt wells here refer to the salt wells in Sichuan. Salt is known as the “ancestor of all flavors” and has long been an indispensable strategic substance for dynasties. The salt produced in the salt wells in Sichuan is called well salt, which has been famous since the end of the Warring States Period. According toShu Zhi(Shu Section) inHuayang Guozhi:

（李冰）又识齐水脉，穿广都盐井诸陂池。蜀于是有养生之饶也。

(Li Bing) marked waterways and diverted water into salt wells to create salt ponds. After that, Shu became wealthy because of the selfsufficiency of salt.

Guangdu County was located in the territory of today’s Shuangliu District, Chengdu. According toA Brief History of Sichuan Culture, the specific locations of the Guangdu salt wells were roughly to the south of the Longquan Mountains in present-day Chengdu, i.e., Gaojiachang, on the border between Jitian Town in Chengdu Tianfu New Area and Renshou County in Meishan city. The record of the excavation of salt wells in Guangdu by Li Bing is the earliest record of the excavation of salt wells in Sichuan as well as in China. During the Qin Dynasty, only three counties in Sichuan had salt wells; by the Han Dynasty, over ten counties had salt wells, including Zigong and Mianyang. The well salt produced in Sichuan was not only for the consumption of people in Shu, but also for export to other places. The wells dug by Li Bing tended to have a large diameter and shallow depth. This design opened a new era of salt production in China, putting an end to the primitive production of salt in Bashu. Today, people can see the prosperous days of well salt production in Sichuan in the Han Dynasty from the brick portrait of the salt production site (yanchang, 盐场) of the Han Dynasty, excavated from Chengdu.

Brick portrait of the salt production site of Han in Chengdu Museum

Since the Han Dynasty, ancient gas wells were used for boiling salt in ancient times and are now called natural gas wells. In the volumes aboutGeographical Recordsin theBook of Sui(suishu, 隋书, the official history of the Sui Dynasty 隋 [581-618]), it says that ancient gas wells existed in Yandao Town, Linqiong County. According toGeographical Records of the Old Book of Tang(Jiu Tangshu, 旧唐书), there was Huojing town in Qiong Zhou (now Qionglai city) in the southwest of Qionglai city and Linqiong in Chengdu. In the bibliography of Yuan Tiangang (袁天罡) inthe Old Book of Tang, it reads, “At the beginning of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty (618), Zhan Jun (詹俊) (the envoy for the Road to Shu) was appointed as the County Magistrate of Huojing town with a temporary official appointment document.” Here “Huojing” refers to the Huojing town, which was abolished in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Sichuan famous place names and historical sites. From left to right: Shuzhong, Chengdu, Jiangtang, Yanjing, Huojing.

At that time, other places did not boil salt with ancient gas wells for well salt production, which was why Wang Xizhi asked the question in his letter.

Though he did not mention Li Bing, who “diverted water into salt wells,” it is obvious that he knew quite a lot about Li Bing. Li Bing succeeded Zhang Yi as the second prefecture governor of Shu County of Qin. During his tenure, he built the water system at Dujiangyan in Chengdu, trained a group of water conservancy experts, and summarized his experience in water management as “dredging the riverbed deep and keeping the weir low.” These efforts contributed to the growing wealth of the Chengdu Plain and provided an important material foundation for Qin Shi Huang’s unification of the states in China.

In this letter, Wang Xizhi wrote Chengdu, Shuzhong, Jiangtang, Yanjing, and Huojing. These were the first times that they were written by a great calligrapher and have been handed down to this day.

Wang Xizhi’s Yearn for Shu

Wang Xizhi’s yearn for Shu was mostly reflected in his writing ofShudu Tie. This letter was also known as “peculiar mountains and rivers,” which was originally the thirteenth letter inShiqi Tie(Tang, 2021).

Shudu Tieis a paper-based piece inCaocalligraphy, with 11 lines and 102 characters. The original Chinese text and its English translation are shown below.

省足下别疏，具彼土山川诸奇。扬雄《蜀都》、左太冲《三都》，殊为不备悉。彼故为多奇，益令其游目意足也。可得果，当告卿求迎，少人足耳。至时示意。迟此期，真以日为岁。想足下镇彼土，未有动理耳。要欲及卿在彼，登汶岭、峨眉而旋，不朽之盛事。但言此，心以驰于彼矣。

I have read your letter, and all the wonders of the mountains and rivers [in Shu] described in it. The descriptions in theShudu Fu(蜀都赋) by Yang Xiong [of Chengdu in the Western Han Dynasty] and the Zuo Taichong’sShudu Fu[ofSandu Fu三都赋] [of the Western Jin Dynasty] are not quite complete. The mountains and rivers in Shu are so fantastic that I feel that I have to visit this place. If I can make it, I will let you know in advance. I also need you to send someone to pick me up, but only a few would be enough. I will tell you the time when I can go. While waiting for this day to come, I already feel that a day is like a year. You are guarding Shu. [With your merits], the royal court probably won’t assign you to other places. I hope very much that while you are still in Shu, I can climb Wenling and Emei Mountain with you, which would be a great experience in my life. Just talking about this, my heart has already flown to where you are.

Chengdu Tie by Wang Xizhi

It should be noted that many books now claim thatShudu Tieis also known asYoumu Tie, or the other way round. In my opinion, this is actually incorrect.Youmu Tiewas actually the 27th letterQingyan Tie(清晏帖) in the originalShiqi Tie. Its name “youmu” came from a sentence in the letter, “Why not visit and see it?” (he keyi bu youmu, 何可以不游目).Shudu TieandYoumu Tieare not the same piece of work.

From theShudu Tie, it can be known that Wang Xizhi’s passion for Shu was triggered by Zhou Fu’s letter about the magnificent landscapes of Shu. Wang Xizhi felt that it was more wonderful than how it had been described in Yang Xiong’sShudu Fuand Zuo Taichong’sShudu Fu(inSandu Fu). Therefore, he developed a great desire to visit Shu and climb Wenling and Emei while Zhou Fu was still stationed in Bashu. Then, where do “Shudu” (in Yang Xiong’s work) and “Sandu” (in Zuo Taichong’s work) refer to? Where in Sichuan are Wenling and Emei today?

Shudu by Yang Xiong

Yang Xiong’sShudurefers to his famous workShudu Fu(蜀都赋,Rhapsody of the Shu Capital).Shudu Fuis a masterpiece of Yang Xiong. It describes the magnificence and beauty of Chengdu with artistic expressions. With excellent use of rhetoric devices,Shudu Fudepicts the prosperity of Chengdu, the splendid landscapes of Shu, and the wonders of the people of Shu, providing detailed descriptions of the geography, history, customs, wealth, and products of Chengdu. It has extremely high historical value and is one of the most important historical materials for knowing, understanding, and studying Chengdu during the Han Dynasty. Yang Xiong was the most famous writer of rhetoric in the Western Han Dynasty after Sima Xiangru. People praised “Resting from the horse and coming alone for a story, Yang Xiong is the man that has the best during the two Han dynasties” (歇马独来寻故事，文章两汉愧扬雄). Following Zhang Heng’s (张衡)Nandu Fu(南都赋,Southern Capital Rhapsody), this piece of work also played a great influence on the creation ofShu Fuin Zuo Taichong’s (左思，字太冲)Sandu Fuof the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Sandu by Zuo Taichong

Zuo Taichong (250?-305?), also known as Zuo Si, was born in Linzi of the Qi State (now Zibo, Shandong province) and was a famous litterateur of the Western Jin Dynasty. Since childhood, Zuo Si was very talented despite his unattractive appearance. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, his family moved to Luoyang and he served as the secretary of the Imperial Library. During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, he followed the powerful Jia Mi (贾谧) and became an important member of the “twenty-four friends (of Jia Mi).” His representative works includeSandu FuandYong Shi(咏史,Poem on History).

The “sandu” (three capitals) inSandu Furefers to the three capitals during the Three Kingdoms period: the capital of Wei (present-day Luoyang, Henan province), the capital of Wu (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu province), and the capital of Shu (present-day Chengdu, Sichuan province).Shudu Fuconsists of three sections: the first section recalls the historical origin of Shudu; the second section describes the gorgeous cityscape of Shudu; the third section tells the commercial prosperity of Shudu. This work fully reveals the incomparable splendor and prosperity of the Land of Abundance from different aspects, such as the geographical situation of the capital city of Shu, mountains and rivers, products, local customs and practices, urban architecture, the commercial economy, the great wealth of the place, the spirit, and the people.

Zuo Si was not a native of Shu, nor had he ever been to Shu. However, in order to writeShudu Fu, he visited Zhang Zai (张载), who had been to Shu. Zuo also read many historical records about local areas. Therefore, his writing about the abundance of goods and local customs is quite credible (Wu, 2005).

Today, people can also see the luxurious life of Sichuan nobles in the Han Dynasty from the “Acrobatics in a Feast” engraved on the stone coffin unearthed in Pi District, Chengdu.

Stone coffin engraved with Acrobatics in a Feast in the Sichuan Museum

Wenling and Emei

Where are “Wenling and Emei” today?

It is generally believed that “Wen” refers to the Min River. A cue can be found fromDushi Fangyu Jiyao(读史方舆纪要,Essentials of Geography for Reading History) written by geographer Gu Zuyu (顾祖禹) in the Qing dynasty:

《志》云：岷江一曰汶江。

According toZhi, Min River was sometimes called Wen River.

In this sense, Wenling refers to today’s Min Mountains. However, after research, some experts believe that Wenling should be today’s Mount Qingcheng, not the Min Mountains. I favor the latter view. Sichuan is a great place for Taoism, and Mount Heming (in Dayi, Sichuan) was the birthplace of Taoism, while Mount Qingcheng (officially named in the Tang Dynasty) was where Taoism began to flourish. Taoism was initially namedWu Dou Mi Dao(五斗米道, the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice) and was later changed toTianshi Dao(天师道, the Way of the Celestial Masters). Later it developed into a way based at Mount Longhu, giving rise toZhengyi Dao(正一道, the Way of Orthodox Unity). Wang Xizhi was a member of the family that followedTianshi Daofounded by Zhang Daoling (张道陵), the ancestor patriarch of Taoism. He was a famous figure in the group and was a faithful follower. His entire family believed in Taoism. That is why Wenling was placed before Emei in Wang Xizhi’s letter. He probably thought that only a pilgrimage to Mount Qingcheng, the ancestral mountain ofTianshi Dao, could be a “monumental event.”

As for Mount Emei, it is well known that it is a famous Buddhist destination in China.

Shudu Tiereflects Wang Xizhi’s admiration for the human and natural landscapes of Sichuan.

Shudu and Emei written by Wang Xizhi

Sadly, Wang Xizhi was not able to travel to Sichuan for various reasons. Therefore, the Sage of Calligraphy fully expressed his deep feelings for Chengdu and Yizhou with the most charming calligraphy inShudu Tie. In a way, Wang Xizhi advertised Chengdu as a tourist destination more than 1600 years ago.

In this letter, Wang Xizhi wrote “Shudu” and “Emei.” These were the first time that they were written by a great calligrapher and have been handed down to this day.

Conclusions

In regard to the relationship between Wang Xizhi and Sichuan, there are a number of fascinating points made by some of today’s scholars, calligraphers, and calligraphy theorists in Sichuan.

According to Zha Youliang, a distinguished researcher at the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, “InChengdu Chengchi Tie, the two characters “Cheng” and “Du” written by Wang Xizhi lend great honor to Chengdu city.” He Kaixin, a member of the Cursive Script Special Committee of the Chinese Calligraphy Association, said, “In a sense, the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi, the sage of calligraphy, written inShiqi Tieabout Sichuan, contains the same cultural richness and enthusiasm as the visit of Du Fu, the Sage of Poetry, to Shu. Both are cultural events with worldwide impact. There is only one Sage of Calligraphy in the world, and there is also only one version of Sichuan and Chengdu written by Wang Xizhi. Because of their rarity, they added more value to the culture of Sichuan and Chengdu and can be used to attract Chinese people from all over the world to Sichuan and Chengdu. It can be said that more than 1600 years ago, Wang Xizhi was the city ambassador of Chengdu and the cultural ambassador of Sichuan.” Lin Gui, a calligrapher and calligraphy theorist, believes that “these exemplars by Wang Xizhi contain extremely rich content about the art of calligraphy and painting, historical figures, culture and education, landscape and urban construction in Sichuan during the Han and Wei dynasties, which prompted Wang Xizhi’s strong desire to visit Shu. As the most influential representative of the Wang clan of Langya and the Xie family of Chen Jun at the time, Wang Xizhi’s thoughts truly reflect the cultural status and influence of Sichuan during the two Jin dynasties.”

I highly agree with the above views. In addition to the above, the most significant aspect of Wang Xizhi’s relationship with Sichuan is that he created many “firsts” for Sichuan. In other words, for the first time in Chinese history, a genuine masterpiece of calligraphy written by a well-known master was passed down to this day. According to research to date, no other well-known calligrapher had written earlier than Wang Xizhi. Among the many “firsts”, Sichuan historical figures written by Wang Xizhi include “Yan Junping,” “Sima Xiangru,” “Yang Ziyun (Yang Xiong)” and “Qiao Zhou.” In terms of the names of places in Sichuan, some “firsts” are “Chengdu,” “Shudu,” “Emei,” and “Shuzhong.” When it comes to sceneries and historical sites in Sichuan, there are “jiangtang” (lecture hall), “yanjing” (salt wells), and “huojing” (ancient gas wells). These “firsts” are unique and incomparable in the world, which is a precious treasure left by Wang Xizhi to Sichuan.

In conclusion, it has been more than 1600 years since Wang Xizhi’s death. Nevertheless, as the Sage of Calligraphy, Wang’s calligraphy still has a strong calling, leading and guiding power to Chinese and even foreigners around the world. This is why his relationship with, and stories about Sichuan are so precious, unique, and not reproducible. They not only enhance the visibility and reputation of Sichuan’s history and culture at home and aboard, but also serve as a precious treasure trove of art for us to establish Sichuan’s cultural brands and mine its cultural resources today.

These letters of Wang Xizhi once again prove that art is timeless. The letter written by the Great General Zhou Fu to Wang Xizhi has been lost. Despite Zhou Fu’s achievements in Shu, he was only commented in eight characters as “very prestigious and benevolent, and the people appreciated his virtue” (shen you wei hui, min xian de zhi, 甚有威惠，民咸德之) in the history. If it were not because of the letter left by Wang Xizhi, Zhou Fu, the prefectural governor of Yizhou, would have long been forgotten. This is history, and this is reality.