勛
usually seen in: leading light (元勋); medal; decoration (勋章); to award an honor (授勋); founding father (开国元勋)
Closest English meanings
merit·meritorious service
The Calligrapher — Ōuyáng Xún 欧阳询
Tang regular-script master whose 'Ouyang style' is a basic learning model.
Tang calligrapher (557–641), master of regular script/running script — Tang codifier of regular script; crisp, architectural strokes you could measure with a ruler. Tang dynasty
Cultural Story
The Qing court cast 勛 in the rank of a duke of merit and granted 勛官 titles that could pass to a son. The 凌烟阁 ideal of 勈业 reached its late form in the 紫光阁, where the Qianlong emperor hung portraits of officers who had campaigned in the west.
Common words & phrases
- 功勋 meritorious service
- 勋章 medal · decoration
- 勋业 great achievements
- 勋劳 merit and toil
Read the story behind the character
A military museum cases the 勛章 of a campaign few recall; 勛劳 is read aloud at a memorial. In a game a player earns a 勛 for clearing a raid, and a school newsletter praises a student's 勛业-sized science fair win. The traditional form now mostly appears on engraved gifts and old certificates.
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