The Calligrapher — Lǐ Lóngjī 李隆基

Tang Emperor Xuanzong who wrote the Shitai Xiaojing in eight-division clerical script (bafen).

Tang calligrapher (), master of 八分/regular script — known for 唐玄宗，《石台孝经》. Tang dynasty

Cultural Story

驾 (jià) joins 馬 with the phonetic 加. 《説文解字》 reads 馬在軛中也, “a horse placed under the yoke,” to harness and drive. From the team it rose to mean any vehicle or honored person’s coming.

Common words & phrases

• 驾驶 to drive · to pilot · to steer
• 驾车 to drive a vehicle · to ride
• 驾照 driver's license
• 车驾 imperial carriage · the emperor
• 大驾 your distinguished self · your visit
• 保驾 to protect · to escort

Read the story behind the character

驾 means to drive and bear. We 驾驶 (drive, pilot) cars, 驾车 (drive a vehicle) to town, carry a 驾照 (driver’s license), honor a 大驾 (your distinguished self), and 保驾 (escort, protect) a leader safely.

Why this character belongs on skin

Feel the moment you take the reins and the beast beneath you decides to trust. 驾 is to mount the chariot, to drive the horses, and in the old court it was the word for the emperor himself — the one who moves the world by moving first. There is a warrior's glory in it: not the throne, but the hand on the leather, the decision to go. The Dao says the sage rides the waves instead of fighting them; 驾 is the stirrup that makes riding possible. To wear this character is to claim the driver's seat of your own life — no passenger, no apology. Let it sit on your chest, above the heart that pounds like hooves. Some are carried; some carry. This mark is the difference, burned quiet into the skin. Take the reins. The road was waiting, and you were always the one meant to hold it.