New Academic Year, Writing Spring Couplets
New Academic Year, Writing Spring Couplets
Office of International Affairs
On February 21, the Office of International
Affairs held a culturally rich event titled “New Academic Year, Writing Spring
Couplets”, inviting both local and international students to experience the
unique charm of Taiwan’s Lunar New Year and calligraphy culture. The event featured
a special guest speaker, Prof. Te-Ling Liu from the Center for General
Education, who delivered an engaging introduction to the cultural significance
of spring couplets and shared techniques for writing them, allowing everyone to
immerse themselves in the warm festive atmosphere of the New Year through the
scent of ink and brush.
To set the scene, the Office of International
Affairs thoughtfully prepared brushes, ink, traditional red paper, and various
decorative red paper materials. Prof. Liu began by introducing the historical
background of spring couplets, emphasizing that writing them is not only a key
Lunar New Year tradition but also carries people’s heartfelt wishes for the
year ahead. The event aimed to usher in a new academic year filled with
blessings for all participants.
Under Prof. Liu’s attentive guidance, students
gained a deeper understanding of the origins of spring couplets, the stroke
order in Chinese writing, and the basics of calligraphy as an art form. During
the writing session, students eagerly picked up their brushes and practiced
repeatedly on rice paper. For many international students, this was their first
experience with a calligraphy brush, and while their strokes were initially
unsteady, they gradually grasped the technique with encouragement from the
instructor, adding their personal creativity to produce uniquely styled spring
couplets.
The event was more than just a calligraphy
workshop—it was also a vibrant celebration of multicultural exchange. Local and
international students enthusiastically shared customs from their own cultures,
strengthening their mutual connections. Some even incorporated words from their
native languages into their calligraphy, inscribing them on red paper as a
creative way to share their festive wishes.
The “New Academic Year, Writing Spring Couplets”
event allowed students to learn through interaction and grow through exchange.
The process of writing spring couplets nurtured students' patience and focus
while deepening their appreciation for the beauty of traditional culture. Many
students expressed their enthusiasm and hope for more cultural experiences like
this in the future—opportunities where art and tradition help bridge
friendships across diverse cultural backgrounds. Through this activity,
students not only learned to write spring couplets but also exchanged sincere
blessings with one another as they stepped into the new academic year.
Participants Displaying Completed Spring Couplets
Prof.
Te-Ling Liu (second from the right) demonstrating calligraphy
\
First
attempt at writing calligraphy
Diligently
practicing Chinese stroke order
