The Calligrapher — Táng Yín 唐寅

Ming 'Talented' painter-calligrapher of elegant running script.

Ming calligrapher (1470–1524), master of running script — known for 《落花诗册》. Ming dynasty

Cultural Story

Wu Daozi painted drapery that seemed to move in wind, the wu dai dang feng, his flowing zhe, the folds of a robe, drawn so alive that later critics said the cloth breathed. The zhe was the master's signature, the crease that carried motion. To fold a sleeve was to set it dancing.

Common words & phrases

• 褶皱 fold · wrinkle
• 衣褶 folds of a garment
• 百褶裙 pleated skirt

Read the story behind the character

From the dryer a shirt comes out with zhe zhou, wrinkles, across the back, and a tailor studies the yi zhe, folds of a garment, in the sketch. The shop sells a bai zhe qun, a pleated skirt, that springs open as the wearer turns. The character is the fold, in cloth or in the body of a drawing.