"stylus" Wang Xizhi's Calligraphy

There are quite a lot chu bi existing in Wang Xizhi's calligraphy works, which were seldom mentioned or studied in the writing style studying history. When this kind of writing style was studied by calligraphy theorists last century, some opinions had considered it being come from an impersonal reason—paper folding, which was not accord with the truth. As a matter of fact however, chu bi, as an unalloyed writing style, has its own evolvement in the long calligraphy history. The evolvement, impenetrating in the whole history of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, budded when Zhuanshu began to turn into cursive writing, and got gradually matured in subsequent development.The essay discussed two main issues.First is the analysis on the formation of chu bi. We can get a clear track of chu bi's evolvement through the studies on those rudimental books and carved stones came down from Wei Jin Dynasty and even Qin dynasty. Meanwhile, the essay talked about the relationship between chu bi and ming shi shu, in order to study the advanced evolvement of chu bi. As one of the wring styles, chu bi did not came into being in a sudden but had much to do with the characters development. Chu bi was formed in the process for characters becoming into li shu, and got consummated and widely used finally by Wang Xizhi. A number of information of which told the evolvement of chu bi can be found in those history literatures, which provided the chu bi formation.Secondly, the essay studied on the usage of chu bi in Wang Xizhi's works, trying to find out the exact year for disparting Wang Xizhi's works into two typical periods and their main characteristics. Wang used that style most in his middle and late years, but began learning it in early times when he wrote his work of Kong Shi Zhong Tie. As the style getting more matured, Wang used it more frequently in his works. The style appeared everywhere in the work of Lan Ting Xu, which many scholars including Guo Moruo considered as fake. The discussion of the usage of chu bi can probably provide a new proof for the authenticity of the Lan Ting Xu.