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

In the classical tradition: 哗 (traditional 嘩) is a mouth character for noise, clamor, and uproar. The histories describe crowds 喧哗 at the market and armies that 哗變, mutinied, when pay failed. A hall 哗然, in an uproar, at a scandal, and 哗笑 was the roar of coarse laughter in the tavern. Water too 哗s, the rush of a waterfall that drowns thought, giving the character its restless, public, unquiet spirit.

Common words & phrases

• 喧哗 noisy · clamor · uproar
• 哗然 in an uproar · indignant
• 哗笑 laugh noisily · roar with laughter
• 哗变 mutiny · revolt

Read the story behind the character

In the modern world: The classroom 喧哗 — noisy and clamorous — before the bell, and netizens go 哗然, in an uproar, over a celebrity scandal. Drunks 哗笑, laugh noisily, at the late-night stall, while sailors fear a crew 哗變, a mutiny, on a bad voyage. When the rain 哗s on the tin roof, you can't hear your show, just the storm's loud, restless voice.