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

渐 meant water seeping in by degrees; the Yijing uses 渐 for steady progress, the wild goose alighting step by step. A ruler favored 渐进 (gradual reform) over violent change, and the Shijing watched the season 渐渐 (little by little) turn. 日渐 (day by day) the frontier grew calm under good governance at last.

Common words & phrases

• 逐渐 gradually · by degrees · slowly
• 渐变 gradual change · gradient · fade
• 渐渐 gradually · little by little
• 渐进 progressive · step-by-step · gradual
• 渐次 successively · gradually · in turn
• 日渐 increasingly · day by day · more

Read the story behind the character

The fog 逐渐 (gradually) lifts as the sun climbs, and the city's skyline 渐渐 (little by little) appears. He believes in 渐进 (step-by-step) fitness, not crash diets, while prices 日渐 (increasingly) rise each month. The app shows a 渐变 (gradual) color shift, and guests arrive 渐次 (successively) at the door.