The Calligrapher — Xiānyú Shū 鲜于枢

Yuan master of fluent running and cursive script.

Yuan calligrapher (1246–1302), master of running script/cursive script — known for 《石鼓歌》. Yuan dynasty

Cultural Story

The Shuowen explains 奚 as a bondsman, and the Rites of Zhou list 奚 as the lowest household servants, often captives. Confucius uses 奚 as 'why' or 'what' — '奚取於三家之堂?' — turning the old word for a slave into a sharp question. Later men kept both senses: the 奚奴 who carried the brush on a poet's travels, and the 奚落 that mocked a fallen rival. A small graph, 奚 bridged the servant's lot and the philosopher's questioning 'why.'

Common words & phrases

• 奚落 mock · ridicule · taunt
• 奚奴 servant · slave boy
• 奚琴 a stringed instrument

Read the story behind the character

A bully 奚落 (mocks, ridicules, taunts) the new kid at school; a historical novel mentions the poet's 奚奴 (servant, slave boy) who carried his books. A musician plays the 奚琴 (a stringed instrument) at a folk festival, and a commentator 奚落 a politician's slip. 奚 now lives mostly in 奚落 — the modern verb for jeering at someone's weakness — and in a few learned words that recall the servants and songs of old China.