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

是 is the word that fixes. 是非 is right and wrong, the scale of the censor; 事实 the matter as it stands. 但是 the 'but' that turns the sentence; 就是 the 'exactly.' The word is the copula that makes a claim a thing — the sun 是 round, the man 是 guilty. The Shuowen sees the sun straight, the true set down.

Common words & phrases

• 但是 but · however
• 就是 exactly · namely
• 可是 but · yet
• 是否 whether
• 总是 always
• 事实 fact

Read the story behind the character

但是 is the 'however' of every memo; 就是 the emphasis. 可是 the shrug; 是否 the poll. 总是 the nag; 事实 the check. The word props the whole language — the yes, the correction, the link. From the debate to the form, 是 is the small hinge everything turns on, the assertion that something is so, and not otherwise.