Chang Gung University

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.