?Lanting Xu (also known as Lanting JiXu) is the "Preface to the Lanting Collection of Poems," composed and hand-written by the great Chinese calligrapher, Wang XiZhi in which he described a Summer Outing at a place called Lanting.
When Did This Occur?
In the Third Month of 9-th Year, Reign of Yong He, East Jin Dynasty.
It was in the Year 353 AD by the Western calendar.
The time is late Spring.
Where Did It Take Place?
At a place called Lanting, on the out skirts of the Town of ShaoXing, which is about 90 minutes by train from HangZhou. (See map) Lanting is a small Roadside Shelter, like the modern day bus stop, originally built during the Han Dynasty.
The word "lan" means orchids, and "ting" means pavilion; so the structure is
also known as the "Orchard Pavilion."
First 8 lines of Wang's calligraphy
The original of Wang's Lanting was long lost. There are 3 known copies of the original in existance.
The original Lanting Xu
by 王羲之 was, according to legend, buried with Emperor
唐 太 宗 when he passed away.
The three copies that exist to-date were copied written by
馮 承 素 ， 虞
世 南 ， 褚 遂 良 。
Ref:The Shanghai Bookstore, ( ISBN 7-80569-341-2/J.140 )
Complete Lanting Xu
The complete calligraphy is presented here.
