The Calligrapher — Ní Yuánlù 倪元璐

Ming running-script master who died a loyalist's death, one of the late-Ming 'three trees'.

Ming calligrapher (), master of running script — late-Ming calligrapher-painter of jagged, personal running script. Ming dynasty

Cultural Story

羁 is the bridle and halter — leather across a horse's face — and by extension everything that holds a free creature still. 陶渊明 longed for home: 羁鸟恋旧林, the caged bird yearns for its old forest. For the traveler, 羁旅 meant years adrift from the county of one's birth, offices held far away, letters slow on the road.

Common words & phrases

• 羁绊 fetter · tie · bond
• 羁旅 sojourn · away from home
• 羁留 to detain · to stay
• 放荡不羁 unrestrained · bohemian

Read the story behind the character

The halter survives in games, offices, and train stations: gamers speak of 羁绊 (fetter, tie, bond) between characters; law reports describe suspects 羁留 (detained) pending trial; and every social feed quote about 放荡不羁 (unrestrained, bohemian) living is really a wish to be the horse that slipped the bridle. 羁旅 is the red-eye flight home.