People look at the calligraphic words at the Quoc Tu Giam (Imperial Academy) (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – For generations, Vietnamese have preserved a traditional New Year custom ofcollecting calligraphic words written in ancient Vietnamese-Chinese script. Thepractice reflects their respect for knowledge and learning.
Word-asking activity – a New Year traditional custom
A long time ago,when the lunar New Year began, people looked for scholarly intellectuals, who understoodcalligraphy, to ask for meaningful words or sets of words. Word-seekers wereoften heads of families, who wished for new opportunities and for their relatives’academic fortunes. Calligraphers were prestigious teachers or nationallyhonoured contributors.
According tocalligrapher Cung Khac Luoc, the words connect the writer’s mind and the word-seeker’sheart. When people ask for words, they ask not only for luck but also for forkindness and the talent of the calligraphers to remind them to lead a goodlife, he said.
The activitydemonstrates the nation’s desire for knowledge, Luoc noted.
In the past, theword-asking event was a special occasion, whose date and time needed to bechosen carefully. The words, once brought home, would be hanged at the bestspots inside.
Words in theancient Vietnamese-Chinese script could be written in many different ways basedon writers’ moods, styles and creativity. Calligraphers’ work was imbued with expectationsfor a year of happiness and peace ahead. Words are selected following theseekers’ wishes. The most popular ones included “Blessing” and “Luck” forfamilies and children; “Prosperity”, “Wealth”, and “Creditability” forbusinessmen; “Talent” and “Success” for students; “Longevity” for peopleyearning for good health and a long life; and “Patience” for those who want totrain their tolerance.
The words wereoften written on red paper. The colour red in East Asia is associated withluck, life and vitality.
An enduring cultural tradition of the nation
After 1954, theword-asking activity and writing of Han script was boycotted due to itsrelation with the feudal era. At the time, writers did not dare to write, andpeople did not dare to ask for words. The custom fell into oblivion.
Fortunately, old mastershave revived it. In the early period of the 21st century, some saton the corner of the Ba Trieu street in Hanoi, writing and selling theircalligraphic works. The place later got crowded with calligraphers. The corner wasmoved to the Literature Lake area in front of the Temple of Literature, formingthe commonly called “Calligraphers’Street”. After a quarter of century, the custom is now thriving.
In recent years,“Calligraphers’ Street” has turned into a popular spot around the lunar NewYear holiday (Tet). Against the ancient backdrop of Quoc Tu Giam (ImperialAcademy) – the country’s first national university – calligraphers intraditional tunics, in jeans and T-shirts and even in suits performcalligraphy. Lucky words are now written in both ancient Vietnamese-Chinese andVietnamese scripts. Similar streets have been formed in provinces and cities nationwide.
The Temple ofLiterature’s annual Spring Calligraphy Festival falls between the 20th day of the 12th month in the past year and the 15th dayof the first month of the lunar New Year. The event attracts thousands of peoplenationwide who wish to obtain lucky words for New Year. It links bothcalligraphers and word-seekers, and contributes to preserving the custom.
As Tet is comingto all corners of the country, people are on their way to bring homecalligraphic papers, which are full of hope for a blessed New Year.-VNA
Word-asking activity – a New Year traditional custom
A long time ago,when the lunar New Year began, people looked for scholarly intellectuals, who understoodcalligraphy, to ask for meaningful words or sets of words. Word-seekers wereoften heads of families, who wished for new opportunities and for their relatives’academic fortunes. Calligraphers were prestigious teachers or nationallyhonoured contributors.
According tocalligrapher Cung Khac Luoc, the words connect the writer’s mind and the word-seeker’sheart. When people ask for words, they ask not only for luck but also for forkindness and the talent of the calligraphers to remind them to lead a goodlife, he said.
The activitydemonstrates the nation’s desire for knowledge, Luoc noted.
In the past, theword-asking event was a special occasion, whose date and time needed to bechosen carefully. The words, once brought home, would be hanged at the bestspots inside.
Words in theancient Vietnamese-Chinese script could be written in many different ways basedon writers’ moods, styles and creativity. Calligraphers’ work was imbued with expectationsfor a year of happiness and peace ahead. Words are selected following theseekers’ wishes. The most popular ones included “Blessing” and “Luck” forfamilies and children; “Prosperity”, “Wealth”, and “Creditability” forbusinessmen; “Talent” and “Success” for students; “Longevity” for peopleyearning for good health and a long life; and “Patience” for those who want totrain their tolerance.
The words wereoften written on red paper. The colour red in East Asia is associated withluck, life and vitality.
An enduring cultural tradition of the nation
After 1954, theword-asking activity and writing of Han script was boycotted due to itsrelation with the feudal era. At the time, writers did not dare to write, andpeople did not dare to ask for words. The custom fell into oblivion.
Fortunately, old mastershave revived it. In the early period of the 21st century, some saton the corner of the Ba Trieu street in Hanoi, writing and selling theircalligraphic works. The place later got crowded with calligraphers. The corner wasmoved to the Literature Lake area in front of the Temple of Literature, formingthe commonly called “Calligraphers’Street”. After a quarter of century, the custom is now thriving.
In recent years,“Calligraphers’ Street” has turned into a popular spot around the lunar NewYear holiday (Tet). Against the ancient backdrop of Quoc Tu Giam (ImperialAcademy) – the country’s first national university – calligraphers intraditional tunics, in jeans and T-shirts and even in suits performcalligraphy. Lucky words are now written in both ancient Vietnamese-Chinese andVietnamese scripts. Similar streets have been formed in provinces and cities nationwide.
The Temple ofLiterature’s annual Spring Calligraphy Festival falls between the 20th day of the 12th month in the past year and the 15th dayof the first month of the lunar New Year. The event attracts thousands of peoplenationwide who wish to obtain lucky words for New Year. It links bothcalligraphers and word-seekers, and contributes to preserving the custom.
As Tet is comingto all corners of the country, people are on their way to bring homecalligraphic papers, which are full of hope for a blessed New Year.-VNA
VNA
