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Reader question: Please explain this sentence, "figure head" in particular: "As a vice chairman of the calligraphers association, he is a figure head. In fact, there are several vice chairmen in our association. They are all figure heads." My comments: This probably means that if you want to get any deal or something done with the calligraphers association, you should talk to the chairman of the association directly. Talking to "him", a vice chairman, is a waste of time. Talking to any of the other chairmen is also a waste of time. They, like "him", are all figureheads. That's to say, their role or function is largely ceremonial. They have no real responsibilities and wield no real power. Presumably, all decision making goes to the chairman. Anyways, a figure head or figurehead, one word, originally is the carved head of a person (figure) in the front of a ship, presumably identifying this ship from other ships, which all used to have such a figure head of their own. I am talking about the second half of the 18th Century, 1765 being the time the first figureheads appeared. Figureheads being a symbol of a ship, the word later took on a new meaning, becoming synonym for being symbolic or ornamental. In our example, hence, a vice chairman being a figure head means that his role or position is merely formal or nominal, or in form or name only. You may argue that the chairman of a calligraphers association is also a figure head, as the association itself has no serious business to deal with, but that's a different issue in its entirety. We'd better remain where we are and talk about the vice chairman's role as being nominal or ornamental. | 
