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

溯 is to push a boat against the current to the 源; the Chu Ci poet would 溯 (go upstream) to find the goddess, and later scholars 追溯 (trace back) a custom to its first rite. To 溯源 (trace to the source) of the family or the law was the historian's duty, and 回溯 (recalling) the past warned the present.

Common words & phrases

• 追溯 trace back · date back
• 溯源 trace to the source
• 回溯 recall · look back

Read the story behind the character

The lawyer 追溯 (traces back) the contract to 2010, and the brand 溯源 (traces to the source) of its coffee beans. He 回溯 (recalls) his first job with a laugh, while the documentary 溯源 the river to the glacier. Archaeologists 溯 the trade route up the old valley road.

Why this character belongs on skin

Salmon know it in their bodies. The poet of the Book of Songs knew it in his longing: 溯洄从之, up against the current I follow her—道阻且长, the way is hard and long. 溯 is to trace upstream: to move against the water's whole opinion, back toward the source. Every act of understanding is this motion. The historian in the archive, the diver on the rope, the son asking his mother questions at the kitchen table while there is still a mother to answer— all of them are swimming against forgetting, which flows downhill and never rests. Modernity is downstream of everything; it is easy drifting. Going home is the hard direction, and the character does not pretend otherwise. It shows you the effort: the current in your face, the beloved country or the beloved person always on the far side of the water. But fish do it anyway, every season, because the source is where the eggs are. Where the next thing comes from. To wear 溯 is to swear the swimmer's oath: however far I drift, I know where upriver lies, and I will spend myself finding it.