Wang Zhi was a literatus of the Song dynasty. His dates of birth and death, native place, and other personal details are now unknown, and publicly available information is limited. What can be confirmed is that he wrote Siliu hua (Remarks on Four-Six Prose), the only work of his held in this collection, classified here under social sciences. Siliu, or "four-six" prose, is a parallel prose style alternating four- and six-character phrases; Song writers used it for memorials, letters, and other public and private documents, valuing antithesis, allusion, and tonal rhythm. Siliu hua is a specialized work discussing the craft and anecdotes of parallel prose, often recording notable lines by earlier writers, judging their merits, and touching on methods of composition. It is important material for understanding Song four-six prose and its critical views. Because sources on Wang Zhi's life are scarce, his family background, official career, and circle of associates cannot be reliably established; readers seeking a fuller picture should consult the text of Siliu hua and related bibliographical notices with care and should not readily trust later speculative accounts.
