The Calligrapher — Zhū Dā 朱耷

Qing monk-artist of terse, haunting cursive brushwork.

Qing calligrapher (), master of running script — Bada Shanren, Ming prince turned monk whose cold, eccentric hand mirrors his life. Qing dynasty

Cultural Story

In the Zhou court, 瞽 named the blind musicians entrusted with the state's music and its recited verse — voices thought purer for their darkness. Confucius, meeting the blind music master Mian, carefully called out each step and each seat for him. The Shuowen describes the 瞽 eye as one that has lost its sight yet keeps a faint, unblinking sheen — presence without vision.

Common words & phrases

• 瞽者 blind person
• 瞽目 blind eyes

Read the story behind the character

Blindness here keeps its old-fashioned wording. Historical dramas and novels place 瞽者 (a blind person) on the lips of monks and street singers; wuxia storytellers love the 瞽目 (blind-eyed) swordsman whose hearing compensates for darkness. Everyday speech has moved on to 盲人 and 视障者, so meeting 瞽 on a page instantly signals that you have stepped into the past.