400 students, pupils join calligraphy competition

MIRI: Some 400 SMK Chung Hua Miri students and Chinese independent primary schools pupils here put their calligraphy skills to test in the ‘Spring Festival Calligraphy’ competition on Thursday.

The event, held at SMK Chung Hua Miri, required each participant to write couplets and the Chinese character for ‘Rooster’ on red paper.

SMK Chung Hua Miri principal Wong King Kui lauded the competition, saying that it helps promote Chinese culture to the younger generation.

“Recalling the centuries of China’s history, calligraphy was a great way to document historical events. These documents will be handed down from generation to generation. Today, it is our responsibility to encourage our children to learn this skill.”

Wong added that the school was delighted to have pupils from SJK (C) Chung Hua Miri, SJK (C) Chung Hua Krokop Miri, SJK (C) Chung Hua Pujut, SJK (C) Chung San Miri, SJK (C) North Miri, and SJK (C) Chung Hua Lutong Miri join the competition.

Meanwhile, Chinese calligraphy veteran Ting Nai Ho was delighted with the huge turnout, saying that calligraphy trains our concentration, patience and creativity.

“Though it looks like scribbling on paper, the art itself has fascinated people for centuries. It takes persistent practice and firm concentration to perfect the ‘scribbling’ and it is not as easy as it seems.”

Ting added that Chinese characters for blessing (Fu), home (Jia), spring (Chun) and satisfied/ full (Man) truly reflect the spirit of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Ting also praised the Malay students who took part in the competition, which showed the cultural appeal of Chinese calligraphy.

“This shows that Chinese culture is not only practised by the Chinese community, but accepted by other communities. We appreciate how they learned and even mastered the art of calligraphy,” he said.