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

弗 is the old negative, the no carved into bronze and bamboo. 論語 and 左傳 use it where a later writer would say 不 — 弗許, do not permit; 弗敢, dare not. The form shows a bow with something across it, the shot stopped. Refusal, drawn and held.

Common words & phrases

• 弗许 not permit · forbid · refuse
• 弗敢 dare not · not venture
• 弗如 not as good as · inferior to
• 弗及 not reach · cannot catch up
• 弗齿 disdain · not mention · spurn
• 自愧弗如 feel inferior to · not equal

Read the story behind the character

弗 survives almost only in 自愧弗如, I am not his equal, and the occasional classical flourish. The spoken tongue dropped it for 不 two millennia ago; you will meet 弗 in a tomb inscription or a scholar's aside, never in a text message. A dead negative, politely preserved.