The Calligrapher — Zhào Zhīqiān 赵之谦

Qing pioneer who fused seal-script vigor into every style.

Qing calligrapher (), master of 篆隶/running script — Qing eclectic who fused seal, clerical and painting sensibilities into one bold hand. Qing dynasty

Cultural Story

俾 is to make possible. The 尚书 writes 俾 the people prosper; a notice would 俾众周知 a new decree. To 俾使 a thing happen was the magistrate's quiet art. The character is the hinge that lets one event open the next. To write 俾 is to set a cause in motion.

Common words & phrases

• 俾使 so as to · enable
• 俾众周知 to make known to all

Read the story behind the character

A poster reads 俾众周知 of the road closure ahead; the clause is meant to 俾使 fair play in the league. The word now lives in formal notices and archived documents. Causing and making known — this character still appears wherever an order must reach everyone, from the bulletin board to the sealed file.