Wen Tianxiang, styled Songrui and Lüshan, known as Wenshan, was a native of Luling, Jizhou (present-day Ji'an, Jiangxi), a great national hero of the late Southern Song Dynasty who repeatedly answered imperial calls to raise troops against the Yuan invaders. Captured at Wupo Ridge (north of present-day Haifeng, Guangdong) in 1278, he was imprisoned for four years; despite the enemy's countless attempts to bribe and persuade him to surrender, he remained unyielding and ultimately faced death with calm dignity.
Wen Tianxiang was also a brilliant literary figure. During his imprisonment, he wrote numerous poems, lyrics, and essays that chronicled his heroic spirit. His most representative works include *Zhinan Lu* and *Hou Zhinan Lu*. The lines from his poem "Crossing Lingdingyang"—"Since ancient times, who has escaped death? Let my loyalty shine through the annals of history"—have been recited by generations ever since.
From a young age, Wen Tianxiang was already exceptionally learned. He deeply admired Ouyang Xiu and Hu Quan, and he resolved to make a great name for himself.
In 1256, during the fourth year of the Baoyou era of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty, the 20-year-old Wen Tianxiang arrived in Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province) to take the imperial civil service examination. On the day of the exam, he wrote a lengthy essay of over ten thousand characters addressing a series of political issues of the time, advocating for reforms to improve the court's governance. Without drafting a single outline, he wrote fluently from start to finish in one continuous flow, producing the entire piece in a single sitting.
The examining official Wang Yinglin was astonished when he saw the paper and immediately recommended this talented scholar to Emperor Lizong of Song. The emperor read the essay, was deeply impressed, and personally selected him as the top candidate.
Later, the idiom "a flourish and it's done" came to describe great agility in writing or painting.
Source: *History of Song*, "Biography of Wen Tianxiang"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "一挥而就" came to describe great agility in writing or painting.