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

有 is the possession and the being. 没有 the lack; 有人 'someone,' the other who appears. 有用 the useful; 有趣 the fun. 朋友 the friend; 所有 the whole. The word is the having and the there-is — the cup, the companion, the lot. The Shuowen sees the hand and the flesh. A single character for the is and the owns, the world counted as present.

Common words & phrases

• 没有 not have · there isn't · no · lack
• 有人 someone · somebody · a person
• 有用 useful · helpful · practical
• 有趣 interesting · fun · amusing
• 朋友 friend · companion · pal
• 所有 all · everything · possessed · owned

Read the story behind the character

没有 is the 'no'; 有人 the 'someone.' 有用 the tool; 有趣 the post. 朋友 the feed; 所有 the lot. The word runs the denial and the claim — the lack, the whole. From the text to the inventory, 有 is the have and the there-is, the friend who shows and the stuff you own, both a presence the world grants and the ledger records, plainly, as mine.