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

成 is the thing brought to completion. The 易經 reads it as the settle of a matter, and the histories use 成功 for the campaign that actually ended. The character once showed a weapon and a man, the deed done. It is the finish that makes the effort legible.

Common words & phrases

• 成功 success · succeed
• 完成 complete · finish
• 成长 grow · grow up
• 成绩 result · grade
• 成就 achievement
• 成为 become

Read the story behind the character

成 is the daily yes-to-done: 成功 the pass, 完成 the form, 成长 the child, 成绩 the grade. 成就 is the career summed up, 成为 the thing you turned into. It names the arrival and the becoming, the result and the road, usually before the celebration.