Chinese and expats enjoy the charm of calligraphy

Chinese and expats hold their calligraphic works during the Dec. 8 event in Pingshan. Photos courtesy of the event organizer

Twenty Chinese and expat calligraphy enthusiasts gathered for a cultural event in Pingshan District on Dec. 8 to welcome the Spring Festival, which will fall on Jan. 29, 2025.

Organized by the Pingshan Subdistrict International Block, the event featured lessons on the techniques, history, and cultural significance of Chinese calligraphy and Spring Festival couplets. Expats exhibited great enthusiasm for the traditional “four treasures of the study,” namely brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as they wrote on red couplets. They attentively learned  how to hold the brush and imitated the instructor’s movements, feeling  the rhythm of each brushstroke and experiencing the unique charm of Chinese calligraphy.

Expats attentively write Chinese characters using brushes during the Dec. 8 event in Pingshan.

Yuri Shenshinov from Russia, an associate professor at Shenzhen Technology University’s Business School,  shared that it was his first time writing Chinese characters with a  brush. “It’s fresh and fun. This event has given me a new understanding of Chinese culture. Pingshan Subdistrict offers diverse services and activities for residents, and I really like it here,” he said.

Christine Bubeck (R) and Felipe Vieira Setlik hold their calligraphic works.

Christine Bubeck from Brazil attended the event with her husband, Felipe Vieira Setlik. She told Shenzhen Daily that it was her second time writing Chinese characters  with a brush and expressed her desire to practice more to improve her  skills. “It’s a relaxing activity, and it feels good when you start to understand how to hold the brush and create better strokes. We will keep our works to compare with future pieces and track our progress,” she said.

On Dec. 4, the UNESCO inscribed the Spring Festival on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The event in Pingshan celebrated this cultural heritage by bringing together locals and expats, fostering community bonds and showcasing Pingshan’s vibrant cultural landscape.