A rare hand scroll copy of a work by ancient Chinese calligrapher Wang Xizhi was sold for a staggering 308 million yuan ($46.4 million) to an anonymous buyer through telephone bidding at the autumn auction of China Guardian on Saturday. Its starting bid was 55mil yuan ($8.3).

Wang (303–361), from the Jin Dynasty, is traditionally acclaimed as the Sage of Calligraphy.

However, none of his original works exist, making this cursive (cao shu) script – Pingantie (Safety Wish Script) – especially rare for its high quality copy and the clear history of the succession of its collectors, which date back to the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368).

Wang Xizhi's Pingantie

China Guardian vice-president Hu Yanyan said the copy of the original script had nine lines and was later divided into two parts. The item at the auction was the first half, with four lines and forty-one characters.

Also at the Saturday’s event, a calligraphic piece of Wen Zhengming (1470 – 1559) – one of the Four Literary Masters of Wuzhong Region during the Ming Dynasty – was sold for 52.08 million yuan ($7.8 million).

An artwork of Emperor Qianlong (1711 – 1799) of the Qing Dynasty – Pan Long Song – was sold for 45.36 million yuan($6.8 million).

Emperor Qianlong's Pan Long Song

The high auction price for Wang Xizhi’s script is only second to calligrapher Huang Tingjian’s hand scroll Dizhuming (Pillar Ming), which was sold for 436.8 million yuan ($65.8  million including commission) in 2009 to an anonymous bidder through telephone bidding in Beijing. That sale also broke the record of the highest calling price, with 10 million yuan($1.5 million) per bid.

Image of Huang Tingjian

Dizhuming, written on a 15m-long scroll, is the longest existing work of Huang – a calligrapher in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960-1127). It has 407 words.

Workers holding a book about Dizhuming at the auction

Huang (1045—1105), generally regarded as the most creative calligrapher, was one of the Four masters of the Song Dynasty together with famous poet Su Dongpo.

Go and starting digging  through your old stuff……you might find an old calligraphy that could make you a millionaire too! Have fun turning your attic upside down!