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

壕 is a trench or moat. The 城壕 (city moat) ringed every walled town with water and mud; the 三国演义 (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) has armies digging 战壕 (battle trenches) around their camps at night. The Ming 壕沟 defended the passes against 瓦剌 (Oirat) raids from the north. A 壕 is earth opened for safety or for war.

Common words & phrases

• 战壕 trench · foxhole
• 壕沟 ditch · trench
• 城壕 city moat

Read the story behind the character

History class diagrams the 战壕 (trenches) of the Western Front; a city's old 城壕 is now a landscaped moat with lotus. 壕沟 carry storm water under the new district; war games dig a 壕 for cover in the field. Park planners keep a 壕 as a dry moat beside the restored gate. The character stays earth pulled aside to protect.