The Calligrapher — Mǐ Fú 米芾
Song eccentric genius of dynamic, 'flying' running script.
Song calligrapher (1051–1107), master of running script — Song eccentric genius ('crazy Zhang, idiot Mi') whose running script alternates discipline with glee. Song dynasty
Cultural Story
五 is the central number of the old cosmic scheme, the five phases, the five directions with center, the 五岳 sacred peaks guarding the realm. The 書經 orders the world in fives. A gentleman tuned to 五音, the five notes before the scale grew. Five was balance with a middle, the count that held the cosmos together at its hub.
Common words & phrases
- 五十 fifty
- 五月 May · fifth month
- 五色 five colors
- 五官 facial features
- 五音 five tones
- 五岳 Five Sacred Mountains
Read the story behind the character
五十 is the birthday crisis; 五月 the holiday that is not. 五色 is the printer and the festival lantern; 五官 the face the doctor checks. 五音 is the tone-deaf joke; 五岳 the mountains on the backpacker's list. The number now mostly files the calendar and the body, but it keeps a ceremonial echo, the five that once organized heaven, now organizing your features and your vacation photos.
Own this character
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Mǐ Fú 米芾, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.