The Calligrapher — Yán Zhēnqīng 颜真卿

Tang master of robust regular script; co-creator of the enduring 'Yan style'.

Tang calligrapher (709–784), master of regular script/running script — the Tang moral paragon whose upright, muscular regular script became the model of Chinese integrity in writing. Tang dynasty

Cultural Story

令 showed a man under a roof receiving commands, to order, to cause, the word of authority. The 說文 reads it as to command, to make. 法令 were the statutes; 號令 the general's call before the charge. A 令 was also a good magistrate, 縣令. The character is the voice that makes things happen, the order that bends the room.

Common words & phrases

• 命令 order · command
• 指令 instruction · command
• 法令 law · decree
• 令牌 token · sign
• 号令 order · call
• 夏令 summer

Read the story behind the character

命令 is the boss's email; 指令 the code and the coach's play. 法令 is the regulation; 令牌 the token you tap to enter. 号令 is the rallying cry; 夏令 the summer program and the 夏令时 daylight saving. The character names the authoritative word, the decree, the instruction, the season's name. It still means the command that causes, the voice under the roof that tells the world to move.