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

曾 is the once and the before. 曾经 the 'ever did'; 未曾 the 'never yet.' 曾孙 the great-grandson; 曾祖 the great-grandfather. 似曾 the 'as if before.' The word is the reach back — the deed done, the kin two steps down. The Shuowen sees the many and the old. A single character for the once that stains the present, and the great that lengthens the line.

Common words & phrases

• 曾经 once · ever · formerly · at one time
• 未曾 never · not yet · never before · hitherto
• 曾孙 great-grandson · grandson's son · descendant · kin
• 曾祖 great-grandfather · ancestor · grandfather · forefather
• 似曾 as if · seemingly · familiar · as though

Read the story behind the character

曾经 is the 'used to'; 未曾 the 'never.' 曾孙 the kid; 曾祖 the elder. 似曾 the 'familiar.' The word runs the confession and the tree — the past, the kin. From the status to the reunion, 曾 is the once and the great, the thing you did and the kin two removes off, both a reaching back that the present still feels, faintly, as its own.