Young people in Hai Phong embrace the art of calligraphy
Amid the vibrant pace of life in the port city of Hai Phong, a quiet cultural tradition continues to thrive: a love for the Vietnamese language expressed through the art of calligraphy.
Slowing down in a fast-paced life
No longer a pastime reserved for the elderly, Vietnamese calligraphy is increasingly attracting students and young people who seek to reconnect with traditional values while cultivating patience and discipline through each brushstroke.
In Kien An Ward, the Thien Tam calligraphy class regularly organizes both basic and advanced courses, drawing a large number of young learners. Some courses have drawn more than 20 participants, most of them are secondary, high school students as well as university students.
Besides Kien An, voluntary calligraphy learning groups have also formed in several other wards and communes. Some free summer classes for students have attracted many young participants. After completing the courses, many students continue practicing and even assist in teaching later classes.
Alongside these classes, the Hai Phong Young Calligraphy Club has become a familiar meeting place for young enthusiasts. The club regularly holds gatherings, creative exchanges and participates in the city’s cultural events.
What allows calligraphy to spread strongly among young people is not only the visual beauty of the works but also the spiritual values it brings. Chu Huyen, head of the Thien Tam calligraphy class, said practicing calligraphy requires writers to maintain an upright posture, concentrate deeply and balance their emotions. Each brushstroke becomes an exercise in patience.
Many young learners say that after a period of studying calligraphy, they clearly feel changes in their lifestyle, becoming calmer under pressure and more careful in both words and actions.
A tradition that continues to flow
Many schools across the city have also proactively introduced calligraphy into extracurricular activities. At Nguyen Du Primary School in Kien An Ward, students take part in sessions on calligraphy writing during cultural activities.
At the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the image of hundreds of students wearing traditional ao dai and carefully practicing calligraphy at historical sites across wards and communes has become increasingly familiar.
Spring calligraphy-opening ceremonies at the Mac Dynasty Memorial Site in Kien Hung Commune and at the Chu Van An Temple in Chu Van An Ward have also become occasions for students to practice calligraphy, helping foster pride in the long-standing tradition of learning and bringing the art of calligraphy closer to younger generations.
In the digital age, when messages can be sent with a single tap on a screen, the choice of many young people in Hai Phong to hold a brush and carefully write each character reflects a beautiful expression of cultural appreciation.
From small classes to enthusiastic clubs, the art of calligraphy is being carried forward by the younger generation. Through their passion and a sense of preserving cultural identity, they are helping keep this tradition alive.
Hai Phong News