膳 calligraphy

膳

meals

Closest English meanings

meal·food·board

The Calligrapher — Shěn Chuánshī 沈传师

Tang running-script master prized by Mi Fu for his lean, lofty style.

Tang calligrapher (), master of running script — known for 《柳州石》,米芾推重. Tang dynasty

Cultural Story

膳 is formal fare — the meals of princes. The 周礼 assigns a 膳夫, a steward of meals, to the royal kitchen, and histories note the hour of 早膳, morning meal, when the emperor dined alone behind curtains. For monasteries and schools the word meant board and lodging, 膳宿; to 用膳 was to dine with ceremony, chopsticks laid just so.

Common words & phrases

  • 膳食 meals · diet
  • 用膳 dine
  • 膳房 kitchen
  • 早膳 breakfast
  • 膳宿 board and lodging

Read the story behind the character

In the modern world

The hospital menu promises a balanced 膳食, meals designed by dietitians, low in salt and oil. Your cousin works in the school 膳房, the kitchen, where steam tables feed a thousand students at noon. In the palace drama the eunuch announces that 早膳, breakfast, is served, and the emperor deigns to 用膳 — to dine — with magnificent indifference.

Own this character

Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Shěn Chuánshī 沈传师, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.