王獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)是王羲(xi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的第七個(ge)兒(er)子(zi),自幼聰明好學(xue)(xue),在(zai)書(shu)法上專工(gong)草(cao)書(shu)隸(li)書(shu),也(ye)善(shan)畫畫兒(er)。他七八歲(sui)時始學(xue)(xue)書(shu)法,師承父(fu)親(qin)。有一次(ci),王羲(xi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)看(kan)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)正聚精(jing)會神地練習書(shu)法,便(bian)悄悄走到背后(hou),突然伸手去抽獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)手中(zhong)的毛筆(bi)(bi),獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)握筆(bi)(bi)很(hen)牢(lao),沒(mei)被抽掉。父(fu)親(qin)很(hen)高興,夸贊道:“此兒(er)后(hou)當復有大名。”小(xiao)(xiao)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)聽(ting)后(hou)心(xin)中(zhong)沾沾自喜。還有一次(ci),羲(xi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的一位(wei)朋友讓獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)在(zai)扇(shan)子(zi)上寫(xie)字(zi),獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)揮筆(bi)(bi)便(bian)寫(xie),突然筆(bi)(bi)落(luo)扇(shan)上,把字(zi)污染(ran)了,小(xiao)(xiao)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)靈機(ji)一動,一只小(xiao)(xiao)牛栩栩如生于扇(shan)面上。再加上眾人對獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)書(shu)法繪(hui)畫贊不(bu)絕口(kou),小(xiao)(xiao)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)滋長(chang)了驕傲情緒。獻(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的父(fu)母看(kan)此情景,若有所(suo)思……
一天,小獻之問(wen)母親(qin)郗氏:“我只要再寫上三年(nian)就行(xing)了吧?”媽(ma)媽(ma)搖(yao)搖(yao)頭(tou)。“五年(nian)總行(xing)了吧?”媽(ma)媽(ma)又搖(yao)搖(yao)頭(tou)。
獻之(zhi)(zhi)急了(le),沖著媽媽說:“那您(nin)說究竟(jing)要多(duo)長時間?”“你要記(ji)住(zhu),寫(xie)完(wan)院里這18缸(gang)水,你的(de)(de)字(zi)(zi)才會(hui)有(you)筋有(you)骨,有(you)血(xue)有(you)肉,才會(hui)站(zhan)得直立得穩。”獻之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)回頭,原(yuan)來父親(qin)站(zhan)在(zai)了(le)他的(de)(de)背后(hou)。王獻之(zhi)(zhi)心中不服,啥都沒說,一(yi)(yi)咬牙又(you)練(lian)了(le)5年(nian),把(ba)一(yi)(yi)大堆(dui)寫(xie)好的(de)(de)字(zi)(zi)給(gei)父親(qin)看(kan),希望聽到(dao)幾句表(biao)揚的(de)(de)話。誰(shui)知,王羲之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)張(zhang)(zhang)張(zhang)(zhang)掀(xian)過,一(yi)(yi)個(ge)勁地(di)搖頭。掀(xian)到(dao)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)“大”字(zi)(zi),父親(qin)現出了(le)較滿意的(de)(de)表(biao)情,隨(sui)手在(zai)“大”字(zi)(zi)下(xia)填了(le)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)點(dian),然(ran)后(hou)把(ba)字(zi)(zi)稿全部退還(huan)給(gei)獻之(zhi)(zhi)。小(xiao)獻之(zhi)(zhi)心中仍然(ran)不服,又(you)將(jiang)全部習(xi)字(zi)(zi)抱給(gei)母親(qin)看(kan),并說:“我又(you)練(lian)了(le)5年(nian),并且是完(wan)全按照(zhao)父親(qin)的(de)(de)字(zi)(zi)樣練(lian)的(de)(de)。您(nin)仔細看(kan)看(kan),我和父親(qin)的(de)(de)字(zi)(zi)還(huan)有(you)什么不同?”母親(qin)果(guo)然(ran)認(ren)真地(di)看(kan)了(le)3天,最后(hou)指著王羲之(zhi)(zhi)在(zai)“大”字(zi)(zi)下(xia)加的(de)(de)那個(ge)點(dian)兒(er),嘆(tan)了(le)口氣說:“吾兒(er)磨(mo)盡三缸(gang)水,惟(wei)有(you)一(yi)(yi)點(dian)似羲之(zhi)(zhi)。”
獻(xian)(xian)之聽后(hou)泄氣了(le),有氣無力地(di)(di)說:“難啊!這樣(yang)(yang)下去,啥時候才能有好結果(guo)呢(ni)?”母親見他的(de)(de)(de)驕氣已經消盡(jin)了(le),就(jiu)鼓(gu)勵他說:“孩子,只要(yao)功(gong)夫深(shen),就(jiu)沒有過不去的(de)(de)(de)河(he)、翻不過的(de)(de)(de)山。你只要(yao)像(xiang)這幾年一(yi)樣(yang)(yang)堅(jian)持不懈地(di)(di)練(lian)下去,就(jiu)一(yi)定會達到(dao)目(mu)的(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)!”獻(xian)(xian)之聽完后(hou)深(shen)受感動,又鍥而不舍地(di)(di)練(lian)下去。功(gong)夫不負(fu)有心(xin)人(ren),獻(xian)(xian)之練(lian)字(zi)用盡(jin)了(le)18大(da)缸水,在書法上突飛猛(meng)進。后(hou)來,王獻(xian)(xian)之的(de)(de)(de)字(zi)也到(dao)了(le)力透紙(zhi)背、爐火純青(qing)的(de)(de)(de)程度,他的(de)(de)(de)字(zi)和王羲(xi)之的(de)(de)(de)字(zi)并列,被人(ren)們稱為“二王”。