The above is the bronze script form of the character “奋” (fèn).
Strictly speaking, I’m not creating something new—I’m simply writing it with a brush. This can be called Chinese calligraphy. Of course, since it is highly pictographic, calling it pictographic calligraphy is also perfectly appropriate.
This is a character well worth introducing to everyone.
It is composed of three parts: 衣 (clothing), 隹 (a small bird), and 田 (field).
衣: the top and the sides
隹: inside the “衣” — it represents a small bird
田: at the bottom
In ancient times, people used clothing to catch small birds in the fields. Once caught, they would cover the bird with the garment. The bird would struggle desperately, trying to fly away, but wrapped in the cloth, it could not take flight.
The ancients used the bird’s behavior in this situation to express the meaning of “奋”: desperation, helplessness, yet exerting all one’s strength and never giving up.
To keep striving in a desperate situation—that is “奋” （奮）.
This character perfectly illustrates the lyrics of “I Am a Little Bird” by Jonathan Lee（李宗盛）:
“I am just a little bird,
wanting to fly, yet unable to fly high.”
One could also say that Jonathan Lee’s lyrics perfectly capture the original meaning of the character “奋”（奮）.
The character “奋” （奮） moved me, and so did Jonathan Lee’s song. Bringing the two together felt completely natural.
门：甲骨文
福：五个不同字体的福：甲骨文，金文，大篆，小篆，隶书。
甲骨文的福（最上面的），大家没有见过，需要解释一下：左边是一个桌子，祭祀用的。右边是一个架子上的酒坛，从酒坛撒酒到祭祀的桌子上（可以看见三滴酒在空中），用来祭祖，祭神，祭天。为什么用酒？因为古代的人吃不饱，所以用粮食酿的酒是非常珍贵的，是人们最好的东西。另外，酒有挥发性，可以通达上天，可以与神，天，祖先沟通，传达人们的愿望。
金文，大篆福字都是左边是“示”（一个桌子上放东西），一个酒坛。
小篆，隶书把右边的酒坛分开了，失去了象形。但仍然表示的是酒坛。
Work Explanation
Men (门 - Door): Rendered in Shell Bone Script.
Fu (福 - Blessing/Good Fortune): Five versions in different calligraphic styles: Shell Bone Script, Bronze Inscriptions, Big Seal Script, Small Seal Script, and Clerical Script.
The Shell Bone version of "Fu" (at the very top) is likely unfamiliar to most, so it requires some explanation:
The Left Side: Represents a table or altar used for sacrificial rituals.
The Right Side: Depicts a wine jar on a rack. You can see wine being poured from the jar onto the ritual table (three drops of wine are visible in the air).
This imagery represents a ritual to worship ancestors, gods, and the Heavens.
Why was wine used? In ancient times, food was scarce. Therefore, wine brewed from precious grain was considered an extremely valuable possession—the very best thing people had to offer. Furthermore, because alcohol is volatile, its vapor was believed to rise and reach the Heavens, serving as a medium to communicate with gods and ancestors to convey the people's wishes.
Evolution of the Character:
Bronze Inscriptions & Big Seal Script: The left side evolved into the radical “示” (shì), which depicts an altar table with offerings, while the right side remained a wine jar.
Small Seal & Clerical Script: The right side (the wine jar) became fragmented in form, losing its original pictograph appearance. However, it still symbolically represents the wine jar.