The Calligrapher — Zhāng Ruìtú 张瑞图
Ming cursive master of angular, idiosyncratic brushwork.
Ming calligrapher (1570–1641), master of running script/cursive script — known for 《后赤壁赋》. Ming dynasty
Cultural Story
翮 is the stiff shaft of a flight feather — the wing's iron frame. Han moralists noted that a swan crossing a thousand li relies on its six great quills; snap one and the bird drops. Hence 奋翮, to beat the wings and launch, the phrase of choice for young officials leaving home for distant postings.
Common words & phrases
- 羽翮 wings
- 奋翮 flap wings
- 鳞翮 scales and wings
Read the story behind the character
The old quill endures in ceremony more than anatomy. A graduation speech urges the class to 奋翮 (flap wings) toward their careers; an essay on migration describes cranes whose 羽翮 (wings) creak audibly overhead. Fantasy novels give dragons scaled 鳞翮 (scales and wings), and ringing volunteers hold a goshawk gently by the feather shaft before releasing it skyward.
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