Late on the 9thof April, in the Jiading Campus library, some foreign students joined in an activity where they learned about and tried traditional Chinese calligraphy. This was the kickoff to a series of activities aimed at introducing and promoting traditional Chinese culture, which is named, “Visit China and Love Jiading.” The activity was sponsored by the Jiading Campus library with the assistance of the Dianmoxuan Calligraphy Association, the Jiading Campus English Corner, the Department of International Communication and Cooperation and the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Students’ Union.
First, members of Dianmoxuan Calligraphy Association briefly introduced the ancient and profound Chinese characters and calligraphy. The “seven styles of Chinese calligraphy” fully showed the unique composition of Chinese characters during their long evolution. Members from the association shared their calligraphy skills and taught them to foreign students. Foreign students worked hard to grasp every detail in writing, so that, with each stroke, they could learn the essence and charm of Chinese calligraphy and culture. The “four stationary treasures of a Chinese study,” namely: the writing brush, ink stick, paper and inkstone, proved to be especially attractive to foreign students. Under the direction of Chinese students, foreign participants took their own writing brushes, made their first strokes, and finally managed to effortlessly write their own Chinese names and even some words for blessing and encouragement. At the end of the activity, they did not feel like leaving and wanted to have further chances to learn about Chinese culture. Students from the English Corner sent presents to foreign participants and together, they had their pictures taken.
The series of activities jointly named, “Visit China and Love Jiading” is aimed at helping foreign students understand the 5000-year old Chinese history and culture and to create a friendly atmosphere that is conducive to exchanges between the east and the west.
Translated by May Language Studio based upon
http://news.tongji.edu.cn/classid-6-newsid-46645-t-show.html
