The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour (IX) / The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour (IX), 5

At all times there were people who turned
flatter the letter
art. But none of the countries call
the graphy was not revered as it was in China.
In the Celestial Empire, and today they include
with the same respect as for painting.

For most Europeans, handwriting
not art, but just a component of literacy. China is a different matter: it takes calligraphers years to hone their writing skills. But even this is not enough: to reach heights you need to have a special gift.

“If there is ever the most talented calli
count, so this is it ”, - they say about an outstanding Chinese
calligrapher of all times Wang Xizhi (321–379) who wrote the "Foreword from the Orchid Pavilion"

Emperor Taizong treasured this treasure so much that he expressed his will to be buried with him, which was fulfilled by his heir in 650, placing a jade box with the original in the tomb.
Only the prints made at once by the highest command have come down to us, which became the object of copying. According to the opinions of experts, even the best specimens were nothing more than a faint reflection of the original, in which the hieroglyphs were likened to flying dragons and dancing phoenixes.
Until now, China revered the famous text, written one spring evening in the distant fourth century.
In 2010, one of the earliest copies of Lanting Xu was sold at auction for $ 46.4 million.