Preserving the beauty of calligraphy

Members of the Dong Ho calligraphy club present calligraphy to visitors to the exhibition celebrating the club's 10th anniversary. Photo: TIEU DIEN

Create an artistic living space

The art of calligraphy has been present in Rach Gia for a long time, however, in the past it was mainly personal and spontaneous, and calligraphy lovers did not have a place to learn, practice and hone their skills. Understanding that, musician Duong Minh Duc - former Vice President of Kien Giang Literature and Arts Association gathered calligraphers and people who were passionate about this subject to establish a club.

On August 31, 2015, Dong Ho Calligraphy Club was officially established amid the joy of art lovers. The pen name “Dong Ho” of the late poet Lam Tan Phac was chosen as the name of the Club, as a way to show respect and inherit tradition. At first, the Club operated at the Kien Giang Literature and Arts Association. Every weekend morning, at a small coffee shop located in the association’s premises, people of all ages, big and small, gathered together to display ink, inkstones, and brushes to practice calligraphy. The atmosphere here is always filled with creative enthusiasm, diligence, passion, and the spirit of sharing about the art of writing.

I had the opportunity to attend the 10th anniversary meeting of the Dong Ho Calligraphy Club at the end of August at the Provincial Library. In the space displaying unique, soft and impressive calligraphy works, the faint scent of Chinese ink evoked nostalgia. Guests enjoyed a tea party while admiring the members performing calligraphy. The graceful, gentle strokes like flying dragons and dancing phoenixes were written for the audience, fully expressing the love and sophistication in each letter.

One of the outstanding young members of the club is Mr. Dang Kien Binh, residing in Rach Gia ward. Mr. Binh has excellent calligraphy skills. His chance to learn calligraphy started when he accidentally saw the cover of a book printed with calligraphy, the soulful, curved lines left a deep impression. When he started, Mr. Binh did not know where to start learning. Knowing about the club, he participated in activities and was enthusiastically guided by the uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters in basic writing techniques, how to hold a pen, layout, composition methods...

Mr. Binh shared: “I joined the club since its inception. Thanks to this place, I have a deeper understanding of the art of calligraphy, have the opportunity to interact with people with similar interests and learn from experienced teachers. Thanks to that, my handwriting has become more and more perfect and soulful.”

Mr. Le Nhu Y - Chairman of Dong Ho Calligraphy Club said: “For many years, the club has been a place for calligraphy lovers to learn, practice and share their passion. We regularly organize performances and calligraphy writing activities to give away calligraphy on holidays and Tet to create conditions for members to show their talents, and at the same time spread this art to the public. Through these activities, we contribute to preserving the traditional cultural beauty of the nation.”

Preserve and promote tradition

Loving culture, history and having a passion for writing, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Nha has been involved in the art of calligraphy for over 18 years. Although she is nearly 70 years old, she still works tirelessly with her inkstone and brush pen to practice her calligraphy.

The first impression I had when I met “calligrapher” Thuy Nha was her image in a traditional ao dai, gently moving her brush to write soft strokes, sometimes big, sometimes small, bold and light, sometimes strong and decisive, sometimes graceful and delicate. From her talented hands, the calligraphy seemed to have its own soul, carrying messages and emotions conveyed through each letter.

Currently, Ms. Nha and the members of the Dong Ho Calligraphy Club actively preserve and spread this traditional cultural beauty. Every weekend, she is present at the Provincial Library, patiently instructing students in calligraphy. Ms. Nha confided: “I always cherish the art of calligraphy. It is a cultural beauty left by our ancestors. I wish to pass on my passion to young people, share valuable experiences so that future generations can continue and preserve this art.”

With the desire to inherit and develop national art, Mr. Dang Kien Binh constantly improves his skills and creates creativity in each letter. He often participates in festival events to write calligraphy and give words to people. For him, it is a meaningful thing to do, both expressing feelings and spreading traditional cultural values. Mr. Binh said: "Every Tet holiday, I often write calligraphy parallel sentences to hang in the house or give to relatives and friends, with the hope of bringing luck, peace and contributing to preserving the beauty of calligraphy."

For Mr. Binh, calligraphy is not only the art of writing but also a symbol of the soul and cultural values of Vietnam. His greatest ambition is to write calligraphy for many people so that every house, from urban to rural areas, can hang calligraphy, as a way to preserve the traditional cultural identity of the nation.

Small Farm

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/luu-giu-net-dep-thu-phap-a461352.html