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

(Wen Tianxiang, held by the Yuan, wrote "人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青" — who from old has escaped death; keep a loyal heart to light the annals. His 刚烈 held through the prison. The character 剛 is the hard that does not bend, the firm line a man keeps when the state breaks.

Common words & phrases

• 刚强 firm · unyielding
• 刚毅 resolute · steadfast
• 刚烈 unyielding · fierce
• 刚正 upright · honest

Read the story behind the character

Her 刚强 manner steadies the shift. The 刚毅 captain holds the bridge. The clerk is 刚正 and signs nothing false. The word names the unbending will and the upright stand in a day of pressure. On the wall a 金刚 glares in paint, and the word names the unbending will when the pressure mounts.