王獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)是王羲之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)第七個兒子(zi),自(zi)幼聰明好學,在書(shu)(shu)法上(shang)專(zhuan)工草書(shu)(shu)隸書(shu)(shu),也善畫(hua)畫(hua)兒。他七八歲時始學書(shu)(shu)法,師承(cheng)父親(qin)。有(you)一次,王羲之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)看(kan)(kan)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)正聚精會神地練習書(shu)(shu)法,便悄悄走(zou)到背后(hou),突(tu)然伸手去抽(chou)(chou)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)手中的(de)毛(mao)筆(bi),獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)握筆(bi)很牢,沒被(bei)抽(chou)(chou)掉。父親(qin)很高興,夸贊道:“此兒后(hou)當復(fu)有(you)大名(ming)。”小獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)聽后(hou)心(xin)中沾沾自(zi)喜。還(huan)有(you)一次,羲之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)一位朋友讓獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)在扇子(zi)上(shang)寫字,獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)揮筆(bi)便寫,突(tu)然筆(bi)落扇上(shang),把字污染了(le)(le),小獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)靈機一動(dong),一只小牛栩栩如生于扇面上(shang)。再加上(shang)眾人(ren)對獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)書(shu)(shu)法繪畫(hua)贊不(bu)絕口(kou),小獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)滋長了(le)(le)驕傲情緒。獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)父母(mu)看(kan)(kan)此情景(jing),若有(you)所思……
一(yi)天,小獻(xian)之(zhi)問(wen)母親郗氏:“我(wo)只要(yao)再寫上三年(nian)就行了吧?”媽媽搖(yao)(yao)搖(yao)(yao)頭。“五年(nian)總行了吧?”媽媽又(you)搖(yao)(yao)搖(yao)(yao)頭。
獻之(zhi)(zhi)急了,沖著媽媽說:“那您(nin)說究竟要(yao)多長(chang)時(shi)間?”“你要(yao)記住,寫(xie)完院里這18缸水,你的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)字才(cai)會(hui)有(you)筋有(you)骨,有(you)血有(you)肉,才(cai)會(hui)站得直(zhi)立得穩。”獻之(zhi)(zhi)一回頭(tou),原來父親(qin)(qin)站在了他(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)背(bei)后(hou)。王獻之(zhi)(zhi)心中不服,啥都沒說,一咬牙又練(lian)了5年,把(ba)一大(da)(da)堆(dui)寫(xie)好(hao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)字給父親(qin)(qin)看(kan),希望聽到(dao)幾(ji)句表(biao)揚的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)話。誰知,王羲之(zhi)(zhi)一張張掀過,一個(ge)勁地搖(yao)頭(tou)。掀到(dao)一個(ge)“大(da)(da)”字,父親(qin)(qin)現出了較滿意的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)表(biao)情,隨手在“大(da)(da)”字下(xia)(xia)填(tian)了一個(ge)點,然(ran)后(hou)把(ba)字稿全部退還給獻之(zhi)(zhi)。小獻之(zhi)(zhi)心中仍然(ran)不服,又將(jiang)全部習字抱給母親(qin)(qin)看(kan),并(bing)說:“我又練(lian)了5年,并(bing)且(qie)是完全按照父親(qin)(qin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)字樣練(lian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。您(nin)仔細(xi)看(kan)看(kan),我和父親(qin)(qin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)字還有(you)什么不同(tong)?”母親(qin)(qin)果(guo)然(ran)認(ren)真地看(kan)了3天,最后(hou)指(zhi)著王羲之(zhi)(zhi)在“大(da)(da)”字下(xia)(xia)加的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)那個(ge)點兒,嘆了口氣說:“吾兒磨盡三(san)缸水,惟(wei)有(you)一點似(si)羲之(zhi)(zhi)。”
獻之(zhi)聽(ting)后泄(xie)氣(qi)(qi)了,有(you)(you)氣(qi)(qi)無力地說:“難啊(a)!這(zhe)樣下(xia)(xia)去,啥時候才能有(you)(you)好(hao)結果呢?”母親見他的(de)驕氣(qi)(qi)已經(jing)消盡了,就鼓勵他說:“孩(hai)子,只(zhi)要功(gong)夫深,就沒有(you)(you)過不去的(de)河、翻不過的(de)山(shan)。你只(zhi)要像(xiang)這(zhe)幾年一樣堅持不懈地練(lian)下(xia)(xia)去,就一定會(hui)達到(dao)目的(de)的(de)!”獻之(zhi)聽(ting)完后深受感動(dong),又鍥而(er)不舍地練(lian)下(xia)(xia)去。功(gong)夫不負有(you)(you)心(xin)人(ren),獻之(zhi)練(lian)字(zi)用盡了18大缸水,在書法上突飛(fei)猛進。后來,王獻之(zhi)的(de)字(zi)也到(dao)了力透紙(zhi)背、爐火純(chun)青的(de)程(cheng)度,他的(de)字(zi)和王羲之(zhi)的(de)字(zi)并列,被人(ren)們稱為“二王”。