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

首 (shǒu) is a pictograph of a human head, with the skull above and the hair or features below, drawn clearly in oracle bone script. 《説文解字》 treats it as the beginning and leader, the body’s commanding top.

Common words & phrases

• 首先 first · firstly
• 首都 capital
• 首领 leader · chief
• 首要 primary · chief
• 首长 chief · senior officer
• 回首 turn one's head · look back

Read the story behind the character

首 leads in rank and order. We say 首先 (first), name a nation’s 首都 (capital), follow a 首领 (leader), weigh a 首要 (primary) issue, salute a 首长 (senior officer), and 回首 (look back) on the past.