The Calligrapher — Zhāng Yùzhào 张裕钊

Qing calligrapher who created the square-within-round Nangong script.

Qing calligrapher (), master of regular script — known for 南宫体. Qing dynasty

Cultural Story

朝 joins the sun, the moon, and grass — the moment at dawn when the old moon still hangs as the sun rises, and courtiers hurried to audience. Every 朝代, from Qin to Qing, opened each day with 朝, the gathering of officials before the throne at first light, the most disciplined hour of the realm.

Common words & phrases

• 朝廷 court · royal court
• 朝代 dynasty
• 朝阳 morning sun · rising sun
• 朝鲜 Korea · Choson
• 朝气 vigor · youthful spirit
• 朝霞 morning glow

Read the story behind the character

Say 朝阳 and a Beijing commuter pictures the rising-sun district where offices climb; 朝鲜 names the neighbor across the Yalu. A coach praises a team's 朝气, its morning-fresh energy. 朝霞 is the pink band a runner notices at six a.m. The character splits in two lives — court and dawn — both still spoken.