涅
(literary) alunite (formerly used as a black dye); (literary) to dye black
Closest English meanings
dye·blacken·nirvana
The Calligrapher — Ōuyáng Tōng 欧阳通
Tang regular-script master known for powerful, square strokes.
Tang calligrapher (?–691), master of regular script — known for 《道因法师碑》. Tang dynasty
Cultural Story
涅 is a black dye, used to darken silk and skin. The Lun yu famously says 涅而不淄, even dipped in black dye one stays unstained, the mark of the incorruptible gentleman. Buddhists later borrowed 涅 for nirvana, extinction of craving. The word thus spans the literal dye-vat and the highest spiritual release of all.
Common words & phrases
- 涅槃 nirvana
Read the story behind the character
The single grand word is 涅槃 (nirvana): a band returns from 涅槃 after a hiatus, or a fan says a finished manga reached 涅槃. Though few say plain 涅 today, the dye meaning lingers in phrases about being dipped in darkness yet refusing to take its color, true to the old Confucian line.
Own this character
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Ōuyáng Tōng 欧阳通, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.