The Calligrapher — Wáng Xiànzhī 王献之

Son of Wang Xizhi and pioneer of wild cursive who pushed brush freedom further.

Eastern Jin calligrapher (344–386), master of running script/cursive script — seventh son of Wang Xizhi who broke his father's rules for a more fluent, emotional running script; together they are 'the Two Wangs'. Eastern Jin dynasty

Cultural Story

此 meant this, the thing right here at hand. The Shuowen reads it as a person pointing to what is near, the opposite of distant 彼. Classical speakers used 此 to anchor a sentence in the present moment, and historians wrote 此地为家 to say here is home. To know 此 was to be sure of where and when you stood.

Common words & phrases

• 因此 therefore · thus
• 如此 so · like this
• 此外 besides · in addition
• 此时 now · at this time
• 此地 here · this place
• 从此 from now on · henceforth

Read the story behind the character

Daily Chinese relies on 此 at every turn: we say 因此 therefore after a reason, describe things 如此 so or like this, and add 此外 besides for extra points. A clock shows 此时 now, a map marks 此地 here, and a vow begins 从此 from now on. From a text message to a farewell, 此 pins our words to the here and the now.