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 because my brush lacks magical power. Why not seek an immortal in some famous mountain, become his disciple, and ask him to bestow upon me a divine brush? Then I’ll surely become the most renowned calligrapher under heaven…” With this resolve, Wang packed his belongings, bid farewell to his parents, and set off on his quest for an immortal master.
The Fisherman by the Yi River
Leaving Linyi City, Wang arrived at the Yi River, where he saw an old fisherman wielding a fish spear. He approached, explained his purpose, and asked if the fisherman knew where immortals lived. The fisherman chuckled and said, “Young man, don’t rush – wait till I spear that big carp, then I’ll tell you.” Wang looked around but saw only rushing river water flowing southward – no sign of any fish. Just as he doubted, the fisherman hurled his spear with a “whoosh!” and instantly pulled out a carp weighing seven or eight jin (about 3.5–4 kg). Stunned, Wang blinked in amazement and bowed respectfully: “Sir, with such skill, you must be a disciple of an immortal! That spear must surely be a magical artifact! Please tell me quickly which sacred mountain the immortal resides on so I may also become his student!”
The fisherman laughed and sang:
“Never once bowed to gods or immortals,
My fish spear’s just an ordinary tool.
Since childhood I’ve fished by the Yi River –
All my skill comes from bitter practice.”
Wang shook his head in disbelief. Seeing this, the fisherman led him to a deep pool and said, “To master fishing, I came here every day to practice spear-throwing. Year after year, day after day, my repeated strikes dug out this deep pool. Now people call it ‘Liancha Pool’ – ‘Spear-Practice Pool.’” After pondering this for a long while, Wang thanked the fisherman and continued on his journey.
The Hunter in the Yimeng Mountains
Next, Wang entered the Yimeng Mountains and met an old hunter carrying a strong bow and arrows at his waist. He again explained his quest. The hunter smiled and said, “Young man, don’t hurry – see those three wild geese flying overhead? Wait till I shoot them down, then I’ll tell you.” Wang looked up and saw only three tiny black dots far in the sky; even spotting them was hard, let alone hitting them – only someone like Houyi could do that! Yet before he finished doubting, the hunter released three arrows in rapid succession – “whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!” – and soon, three geese fell from the sky. Wang rushed over and gasped: each arrow had pierced precisely through a goose’s head! “This man must surely be an immortal’s disciple!” he thought.
Seeing Wang’s astonishment, the hunter laughed and sang:
“Never once bowed to gods or immortals,
My bow and arrows are just ordinary tools.
Since youth I’ve hunted in these deep mountains –
All my skill comes from bitter practice.”
Wang again shook his head skeptically. The hunter pointed to a distant peak and said, “See that hole shining through the mountainside? To master archery, I shot at that mountain every day. Over time, my arrows pierced right through it. Now people call it ‘Jianchuan Mountain’ – ‘Arrow-Pierced Mountain.’” Wang stood lost in thought for a long time before moving on.
The Shepherd on the Hill
Later, atop a hill, Wang met an old shepherd tending his flock. He once more explained his mission. Just as the old man was about to reply, a huge snake slithered onto a boulder the size of a millstone ahead. Wang instinctively stepped back in fear – but the shepherd cracked his whip with a sharp “crack!” and split both the snake and the massive rock cleanly in two. Amazed, Wang cried out, “Your whip is miraculous! You must be a disciple of an immortal! Please take me to meet the great immortal!”
The shepherd burst into laughter and sang:
“Never once bowed to gods or immortals,
My sheep-whip’s just an ordinary tool.
Since childhood I’ve herded on Meng Mountain –
All my skill comes from bitter practice.”
This time, Wang said nothing. The old man pointed to the hilltop and said, “You may not know, young man, but this hill was once pointed. Every day I practiced cracking my whip here. Year after year, day after day, my whip wore the peak flat. Now people call it ‘Bianchou Gang’ – ‘Whip-Struck Hill.’”
The Awakening
At these words, Wang felt as if waking from a long dream. He abandoned all thoughts of seeking immortals or magical brushes. Bowing deeply three times to the shepherd, he turned and hurried back to Linyi.
The Birth of the Ink-Washing Pond
Back home, Wang threw himself into calligraphy anew. From then on, he rose early each morning to practice by the pond in front of his house, returning only at sunset to wash his brush and inkstone. Day after day, year after year, by the time he became the most celebrated calligrapher in the land, the pond had turned as black as ink from his constant rinsing. People thereafter named it “Xiyan Chi” – the “Ink-Washing Pond.”
Note
Sounds similar? In Chinese literature, learning from immortals are not rare. Notably, Master Subhuti, a powerful immortal, saw Sun Wukong’s talent and taught him the 72 transformations (to turn into anything), Somersault cloud (flying 108,000 li in one leap) and Immortality skills. See how powerful is Wukong – the Monkey King. These heavenly abilities made Wukong the invincible Great Sage Equaling Heaven in the famous novel Journey to the West.
The Wang Xizhi story can be seen as a humanistic counterpoint to tales like Sun Wukong’s, emphasizing grounded effort over mystical intervention.
This story beautifully illustrates a timeless truth: true mastery comes not from magical shortcuts or divine intervention, but from persistent, disciplined practice.
Wang Xizhi’s journey – from seeking a “magic brush” to realizing that even ordinary people achieve extraordinary skill through years of hard work – mirrors a universal lesson about excellence in any field. The fisherman, hunter, and shepherd all deliver the same message in different forms: “Never once bowed to gods or immortals… All my skill comes from bitter practice.”
The tale also subtly critiques the desire for quick success, reminding us that greatness is earned, not granted. Wang’s eventual transformation – and the legendary “Ink-Washing Pond” – symbolize how dedication leaves a visible mark, both on the practitioner and the world around them.
In essence, it’s a parable of humility, perseverance, and the quiet power of daily effort.
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