The Calligrapher — Zhào Mèngfǔ 赵孟頫

Yuan master whose elegant regular and running script revived classical tradition.

Yuan calligrapher (1254–1322), master of regular script/running script/cursive script — Yuan reviver of classical elegance who could write any script beautifully and did. Yuan 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.