Wang Xizhi 王羲之
Wang Xizhi 王羲之(303
AD-361 AD)
His surname is Wang, his parents called him Xizhi, his friends called him Yi Shao when he was growing up, and he was born in Shandong Province, China.
|
王 |
It means what the king means. It is also one of the Chinese surnames. |
|
羲 |
It means air. It is also a Chinese surname. |
|
之 |
It means growth. This word has many meanings and I will only give one of them here.It is also a Chinese surname. |
|
逸 |
It means to spread. It means comfort. |
|
少 | It means less. It is also one of the Chinese family names. |
He was a famous official in the Jin Dynasty of China. His family was the most powerful family in the Jin Dynasty and many of his family members served as ministers in the central government. He is also recognised as the best calligrapher in Chinese history.
There is a story about him recorded in history books.
He likes one kind of animal very much, and that is the goose.
One day he was passing by a house and heard a very loud goose call coming from the family's yard. The sound attracted him, so he tiptoed over to look at the yard from outside the wall. He saw a very beautiful and big white goose standing in the yard.
He liked the goose very much, so he knocked on the door. The door opened and an old woman came out.
He said to the old woman
I really like the goose you have in the yard and I want to buy it.
The old woman replied.
I won't sell the goose.
Having said that, the old woman immediately closed the door.
After Wang Xizhi returned home, he couldn't sleep all night because he kept thinking about the goose.
The next day he told his family.
I saw a beautiful goose yesterday. I wanted to buy it, but the owner would not sell it to me.
Today I want to go and see this most beautiful goose I have ever seen.
Would you like to come with me?
Wang Xizhi's family said to him.
We would like to go with you to see the goose, but we are all officials from the central government, and our sudden presence in a group might frighten the old lady.
We should first ask a servant to notify the old woman and arrange a time for us to visit the old woman and see the goose you mentioned.
Wang Xizhi said to his family.
Your idea is very thoughtful, let's do it this way.
They sent a servant to find the old woman that very day.
After seeing her, the servant said to the old woman
My host is the famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi. He and his family will visit you at home tomorrow.
The old woman was startled and replied.
I don't know Wang Xizhi, and he and his family are famous, so why did they come to my house?
The servant replied.
I don't know why he came. I'm just a servant, he didn't tell me why he came to see you.
At noon on the third day, Wang Xizhi and his family went to the old woman's house.
The old woman welcomed them into the hall of her house and said to Wang Xizhi and his family
I feel very honoured that you celebrities have visited my home today, and my heart is filled with joy.
I am very poor, so I cannot entertain you with expensive food.
I have a goose, which is the most precious possession in my house, and to let you know how happy I am to receive you, I killed it this morning and cooked it into a delicious dish.
I will serve it to you later. I hope you like it.
After the old woman said these words, Wang Xizhi and his family were so shocked that they were speechless.
After this incident, Wang Xizhi sighed for several days.
Dear friends, what are your feelings or thoughts after listening to this story?
What's your favourite animal? Why do you like it?
I hope this story can give you some new insights.
王羲之（西元303年-西元361年）
他的姓是王，他的父母給他取的名字是羲之，成年後朋友稱呼他的名字是逸少，他出生地位於在中國的山東省。
|
王 |
意思是國王的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
|
羲 |
意思是空氣的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
|
之 |
意思是生長的意思。這個字有非常多的意思，這邊只舉出其中一個意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
|
逸 |
意思是散發的意思。意思是安逸的意思。 |
|
少 |
意思是少的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
他是中國晉王朝的一個著名的官員，他的家族是晉王朝中最有權力的一個家族，他的很多家人都在中央政府內擔任大臣。他也中國歷史上公認最優秀的書法家，
歷史書上記載過一個關於他的故事。
他很喜歡一種動物，這種動物就是鵝。
有一天，他經過一戶人家，他聽到有一戶人家的院子中傳出非常嘹亮的鵝的叫聲，他被這個聲音吸引，他就掂起腳尖從圍牆外看這戶人家的院子，他看到院子中站著一隻很漂亮很大的白色的鵝。
他很喜歡這隻鵝，他就敲這戶人家的門，這戶人家的大門打開後，裡面走出來一個老婦人。
他對這個老婦人說。
我很喜歡你養在院子中的那隻鵝，我想要買下牠。
這個老婦人回答。
這隻鵝我不賣。
說完這句話後老婦人就立刻把門關起來。
王羲之回到家後，他的腦海中一直想起這隻鵝，他整個晚上都睡不好。
第二天，他對他的家人說。
我昨天看到一隻很漂亮的鵝，我本來想買下牠但牠的主人不願意賣給我。
我今天想要再去看看這隻我這輩子看過最漂亮的鵝。
你們願意陪我一起去嗎。
王羲之的家人對他說。
我們很樂意跟你一起去看這隻鵝，但是我們都是中央政府的官員，我們突然一群人過去可能會造成那個老婦人的驚恐。
我們應該先請一個僕人通知那個老婦人，約定好一個時間我們再去拜訪那個老婦人同時看你所說的那隻鵝。
王羲之對他的家人說。
你們的想法非常周全，我們就這樣做。
他們當天就派了一個僕人去找那個老婦人。
僕人見到老婦人後對那個老婦人說。
我的主人是著名的書法家王羲之，他明天想跟他的家人來到你家拜訪你。
這個老婦人嚇了一大跳，她回答。
我又不認識王羲之，他與他的家人都是名人，他們為何要來我家呢?
僕人回答。
我不清楚他為何要來。我只是一個僕人，他沒有告訴我為何要來找妳的原因。
第三天中午，王羲之與他的家人們一起到了這個老婦人的家。
老婦人迎接他們到了自己家中的大廳內，這個老婦人對王羲之與他的家人們說。
你們這些名人今天到我家拜訪我我覺得非常的光榮，我的心中感到非常的高興。
我很貧窮所以沒有辦法用很名貴的食物來接待你們。
我養了一隻鵝，這隻鵝是我家中最有價值的財產，我為了讓你們知道我很開心可以接待你們，所以我今天早上殺了這隻鵝煮成一道美味的料理。
我待會就把這道料理端出來給你們吃，希望你們喜歡這道料理。
老婦人說完這些話後，王羲之與他的家人們都震驚得說不出話。
這件事情發生後，王羲之嘆息了好幾天。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你最喜歡那一種動物呢?你為何喜歡這種動物呢?
希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-卷80-王羲之傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%99%89%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7080