China Daily Global Edition (USA)
The write way
International students experience depth of Chinese culture through its calligraphy, Cai Hong reports.
Every Wednesday afternoon, Le Duc An, a Vietnamese PhD student at Beijing University of Technology, practises what he says is a way to elevate his “mind, body and spirit”.
Le, 33, has practised Chinese calligraphy for nearly three years at the campus calligraphy club.
“Chinese calligraphy has not only cultivated qualities of patience, care and perseverance in me, it has also significantly helped me learn more about China, especially its culture,” Le said.
Chinese calligraphy has been widely regarded as a good way to strengthen one’s will and to lead a healthy life. While one is practicing Chinese calligraphy, one has to calm the mind, body and breath, and focus on writing, according to its adherents. The breath is smooth, and the mind is peaceful and joyful, they say.
“I was exposed to Vietnamese calligraphy when I was a child and it was one of the things that impressed me the most,” Le said.
As Le saw films about Chinese culture, the seeds of his interest in Chinese calligraphy grew, he said.
When he came to Beijing in 2019 for his PhD studies focusing on the environment, Le also spent more time on Chinese calligraphy. He joined the calligraphy club in 2020, embarking firmly on his journey of learning the art.
“I have a lot of projects and a busy schedule as a PhD student,” he said.
“But I still conscientiously attend calligraphy classes on time.”
Le said he did not understand the techniques for Chinese calligraphy initially, but at the calligraphy classes taught by the university’s Professor Liu Hongli, 40, Le said he steadily began to grasp the art’s basic strokes.
All Chinese characters are formed from the strokes. Liu started by having the international students meticulously follow the way she wrote the Chinese characters. She also encouraged them to write the characters on fans and lanterns, which greatly increased their interest in practicing calligraphy.
“I tell them what each character means,” Liu said. “Le has shown a great interest in Chinese characters, and he is very conscientious and persistent.”
To obtain a deeper understanding of Chinese calligraphy, Le has visited many ancient buildings in Beijing, including the Confucius Temple and the Forbidden City. He also frequents art galleries.
These places where he has seen numerous treasured scrolls of calligraphy have left a profound impression on him and are a major source of inspiration, Le said.
He has also participated in many calligraphy competitions in the school and beyond, including international events.
“The international students have a feeling of accomplishment in calligraphy class not just for the art itself, but also because of their love for traditional Chinese culture,” Liu said.
For Le, Chinese calligraphy can be also a way to make friends who have the same interest in Chinese culture. One of his friends is Kim Joon-yeop, 23, from South Korea, majoring in international Chinese at the university. Kim joined the calligraphy club in 2021.
“Le is a PhD student and I am an undergraduate, so basically we may not have had a chance to really know each other,” Kim said.
“But our common interest in Chinese culture brought us together at the calligraphy club,” he said. “Le is a classmate who treats practicing calligraphy with great dedication.”
Kim himself began learning the Chinese language at high school in his country. When he arrived in China and began to understand the history of its oracle bone inscriptions, an ancient form of Chinese characters, he was amazed.
“It was the first time I really understood that writing had its own history,” he said.
The earliest known examples of Chinese writing include the inscriptions on animal bones and tortoise shells, offering records of divination and prayers to gods by people in the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century11th century BC). Omens were deciphered from the cracks made by burning the bones.
Since the fourth century, calligraphy has been practised, prized and collected as an elite visual art.
From as early as the 10th century, calligraphy was also a key component of the imperial civil service examinations. Honing one’s writing could pave a path to power and prestige.
Chinese calligraphy has … significantly helped me learn more about China, especially its culture.”
Le Duc An, Vietnamese PhD student at Beijing University of Technology
Spiritual elevation
In the 20th century, calligraphy remained central to Chinese art, expressing an enduring relationship with history. In the 21st century, it gives Chinese artists a distinctive voice in global art.
“The first time I dipped brush into ink, I didn’t like the strong smell,” Kim said.
With the help of professor Liu, Kim said he gradually understood the meaning behind Chinese characters and the techniques for calligraphy.
“Now I find an aroma of calligraphy in the ink,” he said.
Kim also has participated in many major calligraphy activities, such as competitions for foreign students in Beijing.
“I once signed up for an event where we were required to write 50 Chinese characters and I practised my writing skills on 20 sheets of paper,” he said.
Like Le, Kim said he experiences a kind of spiritual elevation from Chinese calligraphy.
The Korean student has also begun sharing calligraphy works with his family and friends.
“If I have my own students in the future, I will also teach them about the culture of Chinese calligraphy, just like Professor Liu,” Kim said.
Le, who plans to return to Vietnam after completing his studies, said he also wants to continue practicing calligraphy.
“Calligraphy has become a part of me,” Le said. “Whenever I see Chinese calligraphy works from different dynasties, sculptures and other historical sites, I’m very impressed by the vastness and depth of Chinese culture.”