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A son-in-law’s tale of spontaneity
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During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there lived a distinguished minister named Xi Jian, who held the esteemed position of Grand Commandant. He had a beloved daughter, Xi Xuan, who had just reached a marriageable age. She was not only beautiful but also exceptionally talented. Xi Jian, doting on his daughter, was determined to find…
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Wang Xizhi’s Goose Exercise
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Wang Xizhi (303-361 CE), the revered “Sage of Calligraphy” of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, is famous not only for his unparalleled art but also for his profound love of geese. This unique passion led him to create a set of health exercises known as the “Goose Exercise,” which contributed to his vitality and artistic…
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Baili Xi
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Baili Xi (c. 725–621 BCE) was a virtuous minister of Duke Mu of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period. His courtesy name was Ziming, and he was from Wan in the state of Chu (present-day Nanyang, Henan).
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Ma Liang and His Magic Brush
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Once upon a time, there was a poor boy named Ma Liang who was naturally clever and loved drawing from a young age. Due to his family’s poverty, he couldn’t afford a brush; instead, he drew with tree branches on hillsides, grass roots dipped in river water by the banks, and pieces of charcoal…
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Wang Xizhi Seeks Immortals
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Wang Xizhi had practiced calligraphy with a brush at home for three years. Seeing that his calligraphy still fell short of mastery, he began to wonder: “Everyone says I’m clever. I’ve worked hard for three years, yet my calligraphy isn’t up to par. It must be either because my teacher wasn’t skilled enough or…