The Calligrapher — Yī Bǐngshòu 伊秉绶

Qing master whose monumental clerical script rivalled Deng Shiru.

Qing calligrapher (), master of clerical script/seal script — Qing master of monumental clerical script, all width and calm. Qing dynasty

Cultural Story

涉 shows a foot crossing water, to wade a stream. The Shi jing sends a lover 涉 to meet his beloved, and histories recount 跋涉 through mountains to deliver a warning. By extension 涉 meant entering any affair. The word is the body in the water, committing fully to the crossing ahead.

Common words & phrases

• 涉及 involve · concern
• 干涉 interfere · intervene
• 跋涉 trek · trudge
• 涉嫌 suspected of
• 涉水 wade · ford

Read the story behind the character

A report 涉及 (involves, concerns) several departments, and we resent a boss who 干涉 (interferes, intervenes) in private lives. Pilgrims 跋涉 (trek, trudge) to the mountain temple, a clerk is 涉嫌 (suspected of) a small theft, and hikers 涉水 (wade, ford) the cold stream to reach the far trail.

Why this character belongs on skin

Two feet step into the current and the water closes above the ankle, then the knee—this is 涉, the act of crossing what cannot be flown over, only entered. To ford a river is to accept the cold, the pull, the uncertain footing, and still move toward the far bank. The Daoist knows the whole life is a wading, never a flying; the Christian speaks of crossing over. There is no enlightenment without the wet. To be marked by this is to confess you have walked through things that tried to pull you under, and reached the other side with your clothes heavy and your soul lighter. Let the ink run up the leg like a tide line, a private map of every crossing. It says you did not wait for the water to recede. You stepped in.