秉笔直书

to record faithfully

surname Bing

to grasp / to hold / to maintain

to hold the pen / to do the actual writing

pen / pencil / writing brush / to write or compose / the strokes of Chinese characters / classifier for sums of money, deals / CL:支[zhi1],枝[zhi1]

perfectly straight / straight as a ramrod / bolt upright

surname Zhi / Zhi (c. 2000 BC), fifth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God

straight / to straighten / fair and reasonable / frank / straightforward / (indicates continuing motion or action) / vertical / vertical downward stroke in Chinese characters

to record faithfully

abbr. for 書經|书经[Shu1 jing1]

book / letter / document / CL:本[ben3],冊|册[ce4],部[bu4] / to write