Boyuan Tie: The Only Authentic Jin-Dynasty Calligraphy

Wang Xun (350–401), courtesy name Yuanlin, was born into one of the most distinguished calligraphic families of the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was the grandson of Chancellor Wang Dao and a younger relative of Wang Xizhi, the revered Sage of Calligraphy. 

Boyuan Tie is especially remarkable. It is the only authentic surviving calligraphy by a member of the Wang family and was designated by Emperor Qianlong as one of the celebrated Three Rarities. It was preserved alongside Wang Xizhi's Timely Clearing After Snow (Kuaixue Shiqing Tie) and Wang Xianzhi's Mid-Autumn Letter (Zhongqiu Tie) in the Hall of Three Rarities (Sanxi Hall) inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City. 

Although Boyuan Tie ranked last among the Three Rarities in Emperor Qianlong's assessment, it is the only genuine work written during the Jin dynasty. The other two are later copies. Its natural brushwork, flowing connecting strokes, and complete absence of tracing marks make it exceptionally valuable. 

Boyuan Tie is in fact a personal letter written by Wang Xun to his cousin Boyuan. In it, he laments that although he longed for a life of freedom in the mountains, he had no choice but to serve the imperial court. The letter also conveys his sadness and longing over the likelihood that the two cousins would never meet again. 

The work consists of only five lines of running script, measuring 25.1 centimeters high and 17.2 centimeters wide. Though modest in size, it possesses remarkable artistic depth. Its brushwork is lean yet powerful, elegant yet ancient in style, with graceful turns that retain a subtle sharpness.