The Calligrapher — Mǐ Fú 米芾

Song eccentric genius of dynamic, 'flying' running script.

Song calligrapher (1051–1107), master of running script — Song eccentric genius ('crazy Zhang, idiot Mi') whose running script alternates discipline with glee. Song dynasty

Cultural Story

位 is 人 with 立, a man standing in his place, the position, the rank, the seat he occupies. The 說文 reads it as the station, the rank. A 地位 was the standing a man held; 各位 the assembled worthies. The character is the person planted at a point, the office and the seat, the location that defines the man as much as the man defines it.

Common words & phrases

• 位置 position · location
• 地位 status · position
• 座位 seat
• 单位 unit
• 位于 located at
• 各位 everyone · each

Read the story behind the character

位置 is the spot on the map and the job in the org; 地位 the status you defend. 座位 is the reserved chair; 单位 the work unit and the measure. 位于 is the located at of the listing; 各位 the everyone that opens a speech. The character names the station, the place, the rank, the seat. It still means the man standing in his spot, the position that holds him and the standing he holds.