The Calligrapher — Yán Zhēnqīng 颜真卿
Tang master of robust regular script; co-creator of the enduring 'Yan style'.
Tang calligrapher (709–784), master of regular script/running script — the Tang moral paragon whose upright, muscular regular script became the model of Chinese integrity in writing. Tang dynasty
Cultural Story
The Yijing reads the world in 六爻, six lines layered to make each hexagram. The Legalist Han Fei counted 六 as the number of the sensible arts. The lunar almanac names 六月 the sixth month, when the wheat is cut. Six was a step in a count, a rung, not a round number of ceremony.
Common words & phrases
- 六月 June
- 六天 six days
- 六岁 six years old
- 六楼 sixth floor
- 六合 six directions
Read the story behind the character
A calendar marks 六月 for the exams. The lift stops at the 六楼, sixth floor, where the language school rents a room. A child turns 六岁 and starts grade one. The weather holds for 六天 of sun. The 六合 fist form is practised in the park before the old men drift to chess.
Own this character
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Yán Zhēnqīng 颜真卿, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.