Preserving traditional cultural values
In 2017, the Phu Lang Thuong Han Nom Calligraphy Club was established with approximately 10 members, including retired cultural officials, researchers, and those knowledgeable in Han Nom script. It is also the only Han Nom Calligraphy Club in the province that maintains regular, organized activities with a clear direction.
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Mr. Le Thanh Van writes calligraphy as a gift for tourists visiting Bo Da Pagoda (Van Ha Ward). |
Han Nom calligraphy is the art of writing Chinese and Nom characters with a brush and ink on traditional paper. It is not only an aesthetically pleasing form of writing but also reflects the cultural knowledge, artistic sensibility, and inner depth of the writer. According to cultural researchers, although the Vietnamese Quốc ngữ script plays the primary role in social communication, Han Nom characters and calligraphy still hold an important place in the national cultural heritage, especially in the study of Vietnamese history, thought, beliefs, and spiritual life. Therefore, maintaining calligraphy activities is of practical significance in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.
Mr. Le Thanh Van (born in 1981), the youngest member of the Club, has played a key role in maintaining and coordinating activities for many years. While a student at Bac Giang Specialized High School (Literature specialization), he was exposed to Tang Dynasty poetry early on, copying and memorizing many poems written in Chinese characters. His love for Han Nom calligraphy was nurtured through self-study, collecting materials, and research. During his research, Mr. Van received further insights from cultural researchers regarding character structure, meaning, and related cultural context. Reading and copying Tang Dynasty poetry and other Han Nom texts helped him accumulate knowledge that directly contributed to his calligraphy practice.
According to Mr. Van, to learn and write Han Nom calligraphy well, learners need not only brushwork skills but also "literary diligence" and "love of antiquity." "Literary diligence" refers to diligently reading and understanding texts, absorbing the spirit of the characters; while "love of antiquity" means cultivating respect for the traditional cultural heritage of our ancestors. "In the history of academic achievement, Bac Giang (formerly) was a land with a tradition of studiousness, many historical relics and rich cultural spaces, yet Han Nom calligraphy was not truly widespread. As life develops, traditional cultural values need to be preserved even more. The club was established to connect people passionate about calligraphy, contributing to the preservation of the ancient culture of our ancestors, so that the Han Nom tradition can be continued for a long time," Mr. Van shared.
Practice calligraphy, cultivate your mind.
Integrating their professional activities with traditional cultural practices, for many years, members of the Phu Lang Thuong Han Nom Calligraphy Club have regularly practiced calligraphy to serve the tradition of requesting auspicious characters at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. From the 1st to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year each year, they are present at many cultural and religious sites in the province such as: the Provincial Museum, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourism area…
| According to those dedicated to Han Nom calligraphy, writing is a process of cultivating inner peace and perseverance. Each stroke requires intense concentration, breath control, and precise hand pressure. From a cultural perspective, Han Nom calligraphy is a link between people today and the thoughts and morals of their ancestors. |
To sustain their activities, members contribute funds to purchase pens, ink, and paper to write calligraphy for free for locals and tourists. In the two years of 2024-2025 alone, the Club wrote and donated nearly 2,000 calligraphy pieces. Many people who requested calligraphy sent money as a thank you, which the Club unanimously donated to religious institutions where the activities are held.
According to those dedicated to Han Nom calligraphy, writing is a process of cultivating tranquility and perseverance. Each stroke requires intense concentration, breath control, and precise hand pressure. From the beginning of the stroke to the end, all techniques require long-term practice. Besides its aesthetic and cultural value, practicing calligraphy also contributes to improving memory and dexterity, making it particularly suitable for middle-aged and elderly people.
From a cultural perspective, Han Nom calligraphy serves as a link between people today and the thoughts and morals of their ancestors. Reading and understanding the content of horizontal plaques, couplets, and inscriptions at historical sites helps both writers and viewers deeply access the historical and cultural messages conveyed through each character.
Besides calligraphy activities during holidays and festivals, the Club focuses on teaching and passing on its knowledge. Currently, Mr. Le Thanh Van, representing the Club, directly instructs calligraphy to many classes and groups throughout the province. This includes the calligraphy class of the Nguyen Binh Khiem School Calligraphy Club (Nenh Ward), with nearly 50 teachers and students participating in regular activities every Thursday. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, the head of the Nguyen Binh Khiem School Calligraphy Club, said that calligraphy activities help students cultivate patience, willpower, and concentration, broaden their understanding of traditional culture, and thus develop an awareness of preserving and promoting the values of national cultural heritage.
In the context of rapidly changing modern life, the fact that the Phu Lang Thuong Han Nom Calligraphy Club maintains stable and orderly activities shows that heritage can only be sustainably preserved when there are people who quietly and persistently safeguard it. The calligraphy practiced each spring not only conveys New Year's wishes but also contributes to maintaining the traditional cultural heritage of the nation in contemporary life.
Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/net-thu-phap-noi-mach-nguon-van-hoa-postid437630.bbg
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