各 calligraphy

各

each; every

Closest English meanings

each·every·various

The Calligrapher — Dīng Dàohù 丁道护

Sui regular-script calligrapher of the Qifa Temple Stele, a precursor to Tang standard script.

Sui calligrapher (), master of regular script — known for 《启法寺碑》. Sui dynasty

Cultural Story

各 meant each, every one apart. The old saying 各得其所 -- each finds his place -- pictured an order where none was misplaced. In the annals the states "each returned to his own" after the covenant. The word divided a multitude into its single members, granting each his portion and his road. It was the pronoun of distribution, fair and exact.

Common words & phrases

  • 各种 various · all kinds · every
  • 各自 each · respectively · oneself
  • 各个 each · every · one by one
  • 各国 each country · all nations
  • 各人 everyone · each person

Read the story behind the character

In the modern world

A phone holds 各种 apps for the same task; the travelers go 各自 home. 各国 send delegates; 各人 signs the sheet. The word does the day's dividing -- the kinds, the persons, the nations, each to itself. It names the variety and the separation alike, from the app drawer to the conference floor, the many made into the many single things.

Own this character

Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Dīng Dàohù 丁道护, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.