Calligraphy Classics Series Vol. 7: Two Versions of the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion

The Orchid Preface, written by the master calligrapher Wang Xizhi, is considered a masterpiece of running script and is recommended as the first example to learn from. While the original manuscript has been lost and many copies and replicas remain, we have restored the entire text at full size from the "Shenlong Hanin" and "Zhang Jinjie Nu" versions (Yu Qing Zhai Ts'u) that are closest to the original. The book includes a skeleton showing the original's handwriting, explanations of character shape and stroke order, a modern translation, and introductions to sections suitable for creating copy works (2-44 characters).

Table of Contents

Features of this series / Illustrations of the Shenlong Hanin version / Illustrations of the Zhang Jinkai Nu version (Yoseisaicho) / Modern translation / Commentary / Character shapes and stroke order / For creating calligraphy works (sections suitable for copying)