A Study Leisure On Wang Xizhi

Wang Xizhi, is a famous calligrapher in Chinese history, who is honored as the Calligraphy Sage. He was born in a royal family in Eastern Jin Dynasty. It is said that his family, the Wangs and the Simas, the emperor’s family co-governed the country when the Eastern Jin was established. Surprisingly, rather than becoming a senior official in the royal court to meet the family expectation just as his two uncles, he became a renowned calligrapher. Wang refused to take the central government posts several times in his official career, and eventually he resigned and travelled around the country. His advocation of relaxing lives and indifference to fame and wealth, which breached the traditional ethical value of scholar-bureaucrat groups, were abnormal and hard to understand at that time. Undoubtedly, as a principal figure in leisure study, Wang Xizhi deserves in-depth research. The research of his leisure thought and activities have positive inspiration and referential significance for the modern theory of leisure study.This paper explores the root of Wang’s leisure thought and makes a review on his leisure life with a comprehensive method combining sociology, psychology, and history. People’s behavior is subjected to his mind and his thought. Therefore, people do something because of its benefits. The paper strives to find the cause of his life changes and the innovation in the calligraphy through the study of his leisure thought.The secluded thinking of Taoist and the pursuit of the harmony of human beings and nature develops Wangs leisure thought. We can see the value and significance of leisure in people’s lives through Wang’s changes. Initially, he did leisure activities guided by the leisure thought. At last, leisure activities boosted his life changes and promoted his calligraphy innovation. Life is irreversible, and the pressure and negative thinking will accelerate the process of human dissolution. Wang took leisure activities as the way to deal with negative things, release pressure and refresh himself. And the leisure thought promoted his innovation in calligraphy practice. Wang made great efforts to maintain his well-being and life quality. We can see the significance of leisure activities and thought in rebuilding human’s healthy psychological environment, improving life quality, boosting creativity and promoting people’s sustainable development. Unfortunately, in the traditional ethical value, leisure is considered as a negative thing, which consumes times and social resources.It can be conclude that it is leisure that changed Wang Xizhi.