Zhiyong (Wang Faji), a monk who lived in the Chen Sui period, his surname is Wang, his name is Faji, and he is a native of Shanyin, Shaoxing, Zhejiang. As the seventh grandson of the sage Wang Xizhi, Zhiyong is a descendant of Wang Xizhi's fifth son, Huizhi. He is known for his cursive writing and is revered as the "Yongzen Master". Zhiyong's life is full of his dedication to calligraphy and his devotion to spiritual practice.
Zhiyong was born in a scholarly family, and his family has a deep tradition of calligraphy. He became a monk at Vinh Hin Monastery and began his path of union with Buddhist practice and the art of calligraphy. In the attic of Yongxin Temple, he spent 30 years of hard work behind closed doors. During this time, he learned Xi calligraphy from Xiao Ziyun, and later took his ancestor Wang Xizhi as his grandmaster to conduct in-depth research on calligraphy.
Zhiyong lives a simple and diligent life, and spends his day studying in the pond. He deeply admired the calligraphy works of his ancestors, and he continued to polish ink and copy calligraphy every day. In order to achieve his goal of hard study, Tomoei piled up the old brush with a broken brush and buried it in an open space in the temple, forming a unique "retired pen mound".
In the process of studying hard at Yongxin Temple, Zhiyong not only carried forward the calligraphy tradition of his ancestors, but also creatively developed his own unique cursive style. The characteristics of his calligraphy include the beauty of the middle and the fast, the clear and bright, the vigorous and simple, the pen through the back of the paper, etc., forming a unique artistic style.
Over time, Tokunaga's reputation spread to become a highly respected calligrapher. There was an endless stream of people inside and outside the temple who came to ask for books, and even caused the threshold of the temple gate to be squeezed out. In order to protect the threshold, the temple people had to use the method of iron wrapping, forming an allusion to what was later called the "iron threshold".
Zhiyong's influence is not only reflected in his personal achievements in calligraphy, but also in the academic and cultural values he inherits. His students, such as Zhiguo, Zhicai, and Yu Shinan, all inherited and carried forward his calligraphy skills, which have been passed down through the generations.
Zhiyong left a strong mark in the history of calligraphy, and his spirit of hard work, devotion to spiritual practice, and unique insights into the art of calligraphy set an example for future generations. His story has been praised by future generations and has become a good story in the history of the development of Chinese calligraphy, inspiring more people to devote themselves to the art of calligraphy.