Names
Chinese:	王羲之
Pinyin:	Wáng Xīzhī
Wade-Giles:	Wang Hsi-chih
Zi:	Yìshào (逸少)
Hao:	Dànzhāi (澹斋)
Also known as:	Shūshèng (書聖, literally Sage of Calligraphy)

Wang Xizhi (王羲之, 303-361) is a famous Chinese calligrapher.

The most celebrated calligrapher in Chinese history, he is said be the exemplar of the high art of calligraphy, a master of every form but particularly of the running script (xingshu). Born in Linqin county in Shandong province, he lived in present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang, most of his life. None of his original works remain today.

His most famous work is the Lanting Xu, the preface of a collection of poems written by a number of poets when gathering at Lan Ting near the town of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province and engaging in a game called qu shui liu shang (曲水流觴). The original is lost, but there is a number of fine tracing copies and rubbings.

Wang Xizhi is particularly remembered for one of his hobbies - rearing geese.