BelSU Centre for Chinese Language and Culture launches masterclasses in calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy, the stylized artistic writing of Chinese characters, is an art that refines the use of Chinese as a means of communication and reflects the calligrapher’s personality, emotions, and thoughts. The idea to ​​create masterclasses on The Art of Writing Characters was inspired by students, increasingly interested in both learning the Chinese language and acquiring the Chinese culture.

The first educational journey into Chinese welcomed students of the BelSU Institute of Pedagogy, as well as students of Belgorod’s Secondary School No. 15. The hosts of the event were Associate Professor of the Department of the Third Language of the BelSU Institute of Cross-cultural Communication and International Relations Elena Yakovleva and Feng Yinghong, Teaching Assistant of the Department of the German and French Languages ​​of the BelSU Institute of Pedagogy. Wearing traditional Chinese costumes, they welcomed the guests in a cheerful atmosphere of the Celestial Empire, supported by various attributes.

According to Elena Yakovleva, mastering the skill of writing in Chinese requires a good grasp of least 5,000 characters that provide combinations for about 20,000 words.

“In Chinese, there is an expression ‘four treasures of a scholar’s studio’. It refers to the writing brush, inkstick, paper, and inkstone – essentials for an educated person. Poets, artists, calligraphers, scientists, philosophers could not do without them,” explained Feng Yinghong.

At the masterclass, participants learned basic styles of the Chinese calligraphy, practiced in holding and controlling a brush pen, and made first attempts in character writing. Besides mastering the best handgrip for writing, the students recited poems, sang Chinese and learned several traditional dance moves.

At the end of the event, all the guests participated in a mini-performance, dancing together to a popular Chinese song.

Stay updated about upcoming events, including master classes and other events by following the VK profiles of the BelSU International Information Centre and the University’s Centre for Chinese Language and Culture.