The Calligrapher — Huáng Dàozhōu 黄道周

Ming loyalist whose upright regular script matched his character.

Ming calligrapher (1585–1646), master of regular script/running script — late-Ming loyalist martyr whose compressed, stormy script mirrors his life. Ming dynasty

Cultural Story

論語 records 季文子三思而后行, think three times before you act, though Confucius thought even that was a bit much. The 道德經 gives the famous ladder: one, two, three, then the myriad. Three was the number of heaven, earth, and man. A boy kowtows three times; a judge strikes the gavel thrice. Repetition to three meant completion, not excess.

Common words & phrases

• 三个 three · third · a trio · 3
• 三思 think twice · deliberate · weigh · consider
• 三角 triangle · love triangle · corner · triangular
• 三心二意 half-hearted · vacillating · wavering · indecisive
• 三番五次 repeatedly · over and over · again and again · often

Read the story behind the character

三个 is what you order at the noodle stand; 三角 is a love triangle in a soap opera and a triangle ruler in a pencil case. 三心二意 describes your coworker who cannot finish a task; 三番五次 is your landlord calling about rent. The number is pure counting now, but the old habit of triple emphasis lingers in speech, three times still means enough times to matter.