The Calligrapher — Sòng Lián 宋濂

Ming founding-era scholar of upright regular script.

Ming calligrapher (), master of regular script — known for 明初文臣. Ming dynasty

Cultural Story

To 授 is to hand down, the master who 授 the Way to the disciple, the ruler who 授 the fief. The character is the give that creates a debt of learning, the transfer from the full hand to the empty one across a generation, and the disciple who received the Way owed the master a life, which the master usually declined and the disciple usually ignored.

Common words & phrases

• 教授 professor · teach · instruct
• 授权 authorize · empower · delegation
• 授予 award · confer · grant
• 传授 impart · pass on · teach
• 授课 teach · give lessons

Read the story behind the character

A 教授 teaches; a board 授權s a manager; a medal is 授予; a craft is 傳授. The handed-down Way is a degree now. The give across a generation is the same, whether it passes a philosophy, a power of attorney, or merely the steps of a dying trade, and the degree is only the fief, printed on羊皮 and framed.

Why this character belongs on skin

A master sets the brush in the student's hand rather than demonstrating, and in that passing the craft leaps a generation. To give, to teach, to hand over what you know, is the only wealth that multiplies by spending. The character is the hand and the act of transmitting, the lineage carried in the palm. Confucius said the gentleman teaches without wearying, and the Christian knelt to wash the feet he had been given to lead. To wear this ink is to mark yourself as one who passes the torch instead of guarding the flame. It is the quiet pride of the mentor, the parent, the friend who made you larger. Let it rest where a hand might rest on another's shoulder, a small vow that what you were given, you will give, and the gift will outlive the giving.