The Calligrapher — Lù Yóu 陆游

Song poet of prolific, vigorous running and cursive script.

Song calligrapher (), master of running script/cursive script — known for 《自书诗卷》. Song dynasty

Cultural Story

Liu Yong, in his 'Rain on the Bell,' writes of the heavy 暮霭 that fills the southern sky at dusk, the evening haze so thick it seems to weigh the horizon down. The 烟霭 of his riverside scenes is not fog but the day's slow exhale, a soft 霭 between the traveler and the shore he is leaving. To stand in 暮霭 was to feel departure thicken the very air.

Common words & phrases

• 暮霭 evening mist · dusk haze
• 烟霭 mist · haze

Read the story behind the character

A lakeside visitor watches the 暮霭 settle over the water as the last boat comes in, the 烟霭 blurring the far shore to a wash of grey. The camera catches the 霭 before it turns to night, and a couple lingers on the deck. The forecast calls for 暮霭 again tomorrow, the 烟霭 a near-certain close to the day's light.