ISU Students from about 20 countries, including Nigeria, South Korea, Russia, and Uzbekistan, showed off their calligraphy at an exhibition at the Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press on Friday.

The students are all enrolled at Shanghai International Studies University and learn calligraphy from Yang Jianwen, a professor at the university. 

Jiang Feng, university Party Secretary, said Chinese calligraphy is "not only a kind of ancient art for writing Chinese characters, but also a symbol of Chinese aesthetics and spirit.” 

Yang said calligraphy reflect the writer's personality and the Chinese people’s spirits of self-development. 

Mary Elui Ogechukwu from Nigeria, with the Chinese name Qin Ge, had her characters Zhong Guo Yuan, Connection with China, selected as the theme of the exhibition.

“As an international student majoring in Chinese language, I should also know about some Chinese culture,” she said. “I used to think of calligraphy as writing freely with a brush and ink when I looked at it, but I found it was not as casual as I thought before after attending the calligraphy course. Calligraphy also has rules.”

She added: “China has a long history and profound culture. Calligraphy is rather interesting and meaningful and I would like to continue to learn it if there is still an opportunity in the future.”

The exhibition is also part of the university’s celebration of its own 70th birthday and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Words from SISU overseas students :

A Li  Premoli Arianna  Italy

I have always been very interested in Chinese calligraphy. Once I found our school was offering a calligraphy course, I thought I couldn’t miss this great opportunity. I have practiced quite hard under the guidance of Mr. Yang in every class. With his instruction, each student’s calligraphy competence is getting better and better unconsciously, producing more and more beautiful Chinese characters. Mr. Yang has been guiding and encouraging us all the time, which has become a shared beautiful memory of us. Through this course, I have got to learn more about Chinese culture, including Chinese art and history.

Ba Zhen  BACCANELLO, JENNIFER HELEN  Australia

Ph.D. student in Shanghai International Studies University (Chinese International Education)

Mr. Yang, such a great calligrapher, made a point of teaching foreign students from all over the world calligraphy, which made us surprised and grateful since we know little about each other’s languages. I was worried at first that I could not master calligraphy as I’ve only known Western art since childhood.  However, once I entered his calligraphy studio, I was so fascinated by the calligraphy works on the wall that I secretly made up my mind to take advantage of this opportunity to learn Chinese calligraphy. In addition, I was eager to know the way Chinese calligraphy is created and differences between various fonts because Chinese characters are an important element of Chinese calligraphy.

At the very beginning, calligraphy was rather unfamiliar to us. I have been writing with my left hand, which may seem strange to others. We started practicing calligraphy with the “Eight Methods for Ancient Seal Character” instead of copying a copybook. In this way, we learned to write each triangle as big as each square. Mr. Yang also reminded us not to be nervous or bend over when writing. We had to make sure we stand in the middle and keep our heads in position. After one class, I had already experienced many benefits of practicing calligraphy, including thought-provoking and self-cultivating.

There was an exciting atmosphere during the class. In other words, we made progress in every class and developed a growing fondness for writing. Every student also began to have his/her unique calligraphy style. Mr. Yang asked me to write Seal Character, a beautiful long-and-thin font popular from Qin Dynasty to the end of Western Han Dynasty. I’ve gained a lot and been deeply in love with this slender and graceful font when learning it.

I feel greatly honored to have this chance to learn calligraphy from Mr. Yang.  As a foreign student studying in China for many years, I am really interested in Chinese language and culture, and I also hope more foreign students would have an opportunity to experience the beauty and depth of Chinese calligraphy.

Bai Xue

I’m Bai Xue from Tajikistan and an overseas undergraduate from Class 8, Grade 1 at the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange in SISU since last year. I had always been keen on Chinese history and culture but had no chance to learn it until a calligraphy course was offered during the winter vacation. I used to think that calligraphy was the easiest but I came to realize its difficulty after attending the calligraphy course. Here we have met many excellent teachers, especially Mr. Yang. They patiently taught us the types of calligraphy and the method to write better, such as which should be thicker or thinner and so on. I really appreciate such a great opportunity that they spent their precious time helping us learn more about China.

Cui Runzhu  CHOI YUNJU  Korea

I have always been very interested in Chinese calligraphy, so I decided to sign up the moment when I heard there would be a calligraphy course. Mr. Yang who teaches us this course is one of the best calligraphers in Shanghai. The “Eight Methods for Ancient Seal Character” he taught us has always been kept in my mind. At the beginning, everyone was worried what they wrote would be neither fish nor fowl since they had never tried Chinese calligraphy. Mr. Yang, however, instructed us earnestly with generous praises, such as “Great! Excellent!”, which really built up our confidence. Everyone was excited rather than tired after class, gaining increasing interest in Chinese calligraphy and fondness for handwriting.

It’s a great honor to be a student of Mr. Yang, under whose guidance I have felt the delight of learning calligraphy instead of boredom and have made unexpected progress in a short time. I hope more foreign students would also be able to experience the profoundness and charm of Chinese calligraphy.

Dong Bowen  Nigeria

For me, Chinese calligraphy is an art worth learning. It is my pleasure to have such a rare opportunity to learn calligraphy from the great calligrapher Yang Jianwen. In the process of learning, I have realized that calligraphy can not only bring teachers and students closer but also expose me to China’s extensive and profound culture.

I still remember that at the beginning of the last semester, I was asked to study calligraphy at the studio of Mr. Yang. As soon as I got there, I was attracted by some splendid calligraphy works on the wall and I was thinking if only I could produce works as beautiful as those of Mr. Yang. I also met many keen students there who ask the teachers questions with a rather positive and curious attitude. I was highly impressed by the lively atmosphere in the studio and wanted to join them too. From then on, I have made up my mind to learn calligraphy well.

I like Chinese culture so much that I feel extra excited to have such a precious opportunity to learn calligraphy, a part of Chinese culture.

I had never studied calligraphy before so I was totally unfamiliar with it, especially its basic knowledge. Every time I came across problems when practicing calligraphy, Mr. Yang would patiently tutor me, help me, and correct my error. After a few months’ practice, he gave each of us distinct kinds of calligraphy to write because he knew perfectly what types of calligraphy we were good at. Some students wrote Big Seal Character, some Seal Character, some Regular Script, some Official Script, and I was asked to write Cursive Script.

To be honest, I thought I was free to write when first practicing cursive handwriting, but then the teacher told me the upper and lower structures should be symmetrical. After a few months of hard work, I finally wrote a very beautiful work of Chinese calligraphy.

In a word, it is my honor to learn calligraphy from Mr. Yang because I have gained a lot of fun and benefits in the process. Not only have I learned calligraphy and met many teachers and classmates, but also I have gained a good knowledge about the depth and extensiveness of Chinese culture.

Finally, I would express my gratitude to SISU for giving me this opportunity, to Mr. Yang for his guidance and care, and to some classmates who have helped me in calligraphy study. Thank you all!

Ji Na  GRIGORYAN, DIANA  Armenian

For me, calligraphy is to depict the inner world with a pen.  The deeper you go into its world, the richer you will be. I have been keenly interested in art since childhood. My friends often say all my opinions are unique. In fact, I focus on details to make beautiful features more evident.

I have found new hobbies during the two-year life in Shanghai, but I don’t think calligraphy as my new hobby as it has been sleeping in my heart and is suddenly awakened now. In my view, it is more than a decorative art. Instead, it should be regarded as the highest form of visual art, which is more valuable than painting and sculpture and is a means of self-expression and refinement together with poetry. The more you sink in the ink, the more meaningful your soul would be.

Jiang Minzong  KANG MINJOUNG  Korea

I learned calligraphy in Korea when I was young but now I have forgotten it, so I attended the calligraphy course as soon as I heard about it. Although I wrote poorly, I have gradually improved my calligraphy with the help of Mr. Yang. All students from across the world have tried rather hard to practice calligraphy. Although this semester was busy, I spared no effort practicing calligraphy, and finally I was satisfied with the words I wrote. I feel very lucky to have such a great opportunity and I’m really grateful to Mr. Yang.

Lei Keqiang  America

I will never forget Mr. Yang’s calligraphy course for a lifetime. I learned from him step by step from Seal Character to the wild cursive handwriting of Thousand-Character Classic by Huai Su. Although the font has changed, Mr. Yang’s attitude remains the same. He is always full of pride in and encouragement for every student, leaving everyone obsessed with Chinese calligraphy and helping everyone understand the principle of “power”.

Li Na  Hasanova Zarina  Tajikistan

I am Li Na, a first-year undergraduate from Class 3, and I come from Tajikistan.

Time flies and the eight-week calligraphy course will end before the summer vacation. Although the course lasts only half a semester, it has benefited me a lot.

Calligraphy art is a traditional culture of the Chinese nation. Learning it can not only cultivate our sentiment, relax our body and mind, but also enhance one’s perseverance through diligent study and persistent pursuit. With the help of Mr. Yang, we have learned a lot about Chinese culture. I’m very glad to have such an opportunity and I want to continue calligraphy study and contribute to the promotion of Chinese culture in the future.

Liu Yang  Kyrgyzstan

I have been in China for four years. I had an opportunity to visit a calligraphy exhibition two years ago where I saw a lot of calligraphy works. Although I didn’t understand the contents too much, many works impressed me with an overpowering momentum. Between the lines, I seemed to feel the mood of the calligrapher at that time and I thought calligraphy had a magical charm, which also aroused my interest and determination to learn Chinese.

During the study for more than one year, I have overcome a lot of difficulties. At the beginning, I knew little about Chinese, but now I can write and use it and have in general overcome the language barrier. Calligraphy can also improve my concentration, allowing me to calm down and focus on one thing for a long time. Therefore, I keep practicing calligraphy.

The joy of calligraphy not only lies in the achievements that I have gained, but also in the process of making continuous progress while learning. My understanding of Chinese culture increases continuously, as I feel pleased with my calligraphy skills. I hope someday others would also appreciate the profoundness of Chinese culture through my work.

Mo Sini  RODAS MOLERO, STEPHANIE SHERID  Peru

My name is Mo Sini and I’m from Peru. I think calligraphy is very interesting. When I started learning Chinese, the teacher also taught me Chinese culture and from then on I have fallen in love with calligraphy. However, I didn’t know where to learn it in my country, so I went to the Chinatown in Lima to buy a brush and some ink after watching calligraphy videos on the Internet and started practicing. I was pretty excited to sign up for the calligraphy class at Shanghai International Studies University. It was very difficult to write Chinese characters with a brush at first, but the teacher gave me confidence. Many thanks to Mr. Yang Jianwen, who encouraged me to never give up. Now I can write Chinese characters. As the summer vacation is approaching, I will miss the calligraphy course and I won’t forget the moments in class.

Ou Nila  Uzbekistan

My name is Ou Nila and I’m from Uzbekistan. I am an international student from Class 6, Grade 2 at the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange, SISU. I have been in China for two years and have a keen interest in Chinese culture. One day, the calligrapher Yang Jianwen invited me to attend a calligraphy course and from that day on, I have started to practice calligraphy and gained quite a lot after a few lessons. Never before had I been exposed to calligraphy, so I thought it was just handwriting without any tehniques. When I tried calligraphy, however, I found myself totally wrong. This period of study made me understand it is not just about writing beautiful characters, but also about calming down so as to learn something by heart. I really appreciate my teachers for imparting knowledge to me and for their cultivation, allowing me to know many beautiful things.

Pan Yingying  Isabel Cristina Xu Pan  Portugal

Calligraphy is one of the Chinese cultures I have never had exposure to but would like to know about. However, I only know foreigners apart from ethnic Chinese, who have no idea about calligraphy. Finally, I was fortunate enough to study at Shanghai International Studies University and also very honored to have the opportunity to learn calligraphy. Mr. Yang, who taught us this course, is one of the most famous calligraphers in Shanghai. He taught us very carefully various techniques of calligraphy with continuous praises, encouraging us to be more active in practicing and to like calligraphy from the bottom of our heart.  Thanks for his careful cultivation and patience.

Pei Zhuxi  BAE JUHEE  Korea

I once learned calligraphy when I was young but Chinese calligraphy is different from what I imagined and it’s very interesting. Mr. Yang is also pretty humorous, so I learned it with great fun. I really appreciate such a good opportunity in China.

Qin Ge  ELUI OGECHUKWU MARY  Nigeria

My name is Qin Ge and I’m from Nigeria. “As an international student majoring in Chinese language, I should also know about some Chinese culture.” This is what I often said to myself when I first came to China. Later, the opportunity to learn calligraphy came unexpectedly so I signed up for it without hesitation.

I used to think of calligraphy as writing freely with a brush and ink when I looked at it, but I found it was not as casual as I thought before after attending the calligraphy course. Calligraphy also has rules.

It’s my great honor to have this opportunity to attend Mr. Yang’s calligraphy course. I still remember what he said frequently when he lectured – “Power! Power! Stop! Stop! Stop!” Although you might not write that well, he would also encourage you by saying “very good” and then tutored you to correct it, giving you a feeling of progress and kindness as well.

China has a long history and profound culture. Calligraphy is rather interesting and meaningful and I would like to continue to learn it if there is still an opportunity in the future.

Qin Lei  Nigeria

I have been learning Chinese since September 2015. Before that, I wrote poor Chinese characters and could hardly remember them, which was pretty hard for me because Chinese character is one of the most important parts in learning Chinese.  

I started to learn calligraphy in October 2018. At first, I thought it was difficult and I couldn’t even write a Chinese character during the first few days. I was considering whether to give up but when I thought of our teacher, Mr. Yang, I was reluctant to leave calligraphy club and quit this course. He is such a kind person, especially for his earnest words that he said everyday like “Right”, “Beautiful”, “Power”, “Enhance in the middle” and so on. The decision I made was correct because I haven’t regretted it till today. Calligraphy turned out to be not as tough as I had thought when I kept learning it. It is quite simple if you study it seriously. Finally, I found that practicing calligraphy is also a way to exercise since I felt differently every time I finished writing, like I just got out of the gym. I think everyone should learn calligraphy. It will not only help you know Chinese characters, but also improve your understanding of China.

Rui Na  BERDIEVA SABRINA  Tajikistan

I am Rui Na from Tajikistan, a third-year undergraduate from Class 3 at the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange in Shanghai International Studies University. Through the calligraphy course, I have gained a preliminary understanding of the profound Chinese calligraphy culture and keen interest in it. I hope to learn calligraphy further in the future and contribute to the promotion of Chinese culture.

Suo Fei  EGINA YULIA  Russia

Not only is academic knowledge significant when you study a foreign language, but also to be immersed in the culture of the country you are interested in. Learning Chinese calligraphy is more than just an experience, it is also a way to learn Chinese culture and mindset. Therefore, I was very happy when the university gave us the opportunity to take a calligraphy course and learn from outstanding teachers like Mr. Yang.

At first, we wrote rather terribly but we didn’t quit trying calligraphy. Instead, we were increasingly engaged in it. As time went on, we were able to write beautiful pictograph, which undoubtedly excited us a lot. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Yang for giving us useful and stimulating classes, during which we made new friends and practiced Chinese.

The calligraphy course is one of the most interesting events that I have experienced this year.

Wang Li Dong  VONGKHAMPHRA DARAWEE  Thailand

My name is Wang Lidong and I am a first-grade student from Class 3 at the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange in SISU. I’m from Thailand and started learning Chinese there, which aroused my interest in Chinese culture. Every time I come to China, I feel quite curious about the arts of various places in China, such as comedy, music, dance, pictures and calligraphy. I really cherish the opportunity to learn from Mr. Yang so I have practiced hard in every class. The difficulty in learning calligraphy increases as you dig deeper into it, which also frustrated me from time to time. However, the bad feeling disappeard whenever I saw Mr. Yang guiding us earnestly. Through calligraphy, I’ve also become more patient and contented than before. Every time I came to class, I was full of happiness. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the teachers for their efforts to organize this event as well as to students from all over the world to study and share happiness together.

Wei Liya  Kyrgyzstan

I’m Wei Liya from Kyrgyzstan and also an ethnic Russian girl. My dreams have come true in Shanghai! First of all, I came to SISU to study. Secondly, life gave me such a good opportunity to learn real calligraphy. The semester of the university will come to an end, but the knowledge acquired will be kept in my mind forever. In the same way, teachers will not always be with us, but they will leave unforgettable feelings in our hearts.

Wei Lada  Ukraine

Chinese calligraphy is a world-famous art. I would like to give it a try when our teacher told us we would have the opportunity to learn it. At first, I felt it extremely difficult because it requires strength and a sense for it, different from painting, so we had to practice it hard every day. However, I would like to continue my efforts as our teacher kept encouraging and helping us. The more I practice, the more interested I am in calligraphy. I’m very delightful to have such an opportunity to learn calligraphy.

Wan Xiyun  Colombia

I’m Wan Xiyun from Colombia. From the first day of studying calligraphy, I have felt the teachers’ expectations and support for us. They not only want to teach us students from five continents calligraphy, but also hope to carry forward Chinese calligraphy. It is an ambitious plan but they have never given up. Till now, Mr. Yang’s instrction still lingers in my mind – “Perfect. Harder”. All his words, no matter whether they are encouragement or criticism, will remain in our heart along with the opportunity given to us. We will try our best to bring calligraphy back to our own countries and let the world feel the charm of it.

Xie Shibei  SHAFIQ SABA  Pakistan

I am Xie Shibei from Pakistan, a second-year undergraduate student from the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange in SISU. I have been in China for more than two years, and I’m pretty interested in Chinese culture and calligraphy. I’ve heard that Chinese calligraphy is rather difficult, but I really want to learn it so I took a calligraphy course this year. Our teacher is Mr. Yang, a famous calligrapher who has been practicing calligraphy for more than 40 years.

At the beginning, I felt it was a bit difficult because I didn’t know it at all. With the help of Mr. Yang, however, I started to work hard. Now my calligraphy is much better due to practice in and after class. During the classes, he instructed us by our side all the time. He wouldn’t be angry at us if we made some errors but would praise us instead. Under his enthusiastic assistance and encouragement, I’m more and more interested in Chinese calligraphy and I hope I can continue to learn it under the guidance of Mr. Yang.

Yan Yongtaohua  Japan

When Mr. Yang taught me Wang Duo’s cursive script, I thought it was too difficult. However, Mr. Yang told me learning calligraphy was a long-term process and we should take it easy. Now, my brush handwriting is getting better and better and I’m often encouraged by my teachers and families. I also believe that as long as I persist, my calligraphy will surely get improved.

Yan Weiwei  Pakistan

As a 20-year-old girl from Pakistan, I am really lucky for getting a scholarship and coming to Shanghai, where I met Mr. Yang. I’ve gradually fallen in love with Chinese calligraphy with the instrution and assistance of teachers. Their praises from time to time motivated me to work harder on calligraphy. Seal Character is a basic Chinese calligraphic style, so it requires practice with extra seriousness since the beginning. I felt rather relaxed every time I practiced calligraphy. No matter how great the pressure I had, it would be gradually eliminated and things would also go smoothly. While teaching us calligraphy, Mr. Yang told us that Chinese calligraphy is the most beautiful art in the world for the beauty of lines, power, light and individuality. In this way, my study abroad has become more colorful.

Ye Mo  Muhammad Umar Zahid  Pakistan

Basically, I am not a real calligraphy lover and I just took this course to learn about some other aspects apart from Chinese and kill time at the beginning. However, Mr. Yang’s behavior and teaching mode totally changed my mind. The way he encouraged us aroused my interest in calligraphy. I found he was very committed to his work because he had a good understanding of all the students. He assigned me the word “love”, which was a rather difficult task at that time because even some Chinese people were not familiar with the ancient script of it. I used to think that love was not easy at all in real life, but now I find the word “love” in Seal Character is much harder than love. Finally, with the support of Mr. Yang, I finally wrote a “love” in Seal Character. In addition to learning calligraphy from Mr. Yang, who is an expert in this field, I’ve also gained some pleasant and friendly memories. Thank you, Mr. Yang. Thank you, SISU. 

You Xinger  YOUNAS KAINAT   Pakistan

I am You Xinger from Pakistan. In my opinion, learning Chinese itself is very interesting, which is more stimulating with calligraphy. One of the purposes of my coming to China is to learn about Chinese culture and history, and, as we all know, calligraphy is an indispensable part of it. I have a lasting interest in calligraphy and luckily got the opportunity later on. Although I didn’t attend many calligraphy classes, I learned quite a lot with the help of Mr. Yang. It was so difficult at first that I ever thought about giving up, but then I believed I should seize this opportunity rather than abandon it easily. Without Mr. Yang’s encouragement, I couldn’t have achieved such progress. To be honest, he was more serious than us during classes. It’s a great honour to learn calligraphy from such a great teacher.

Yu Bo  Azerbaijan

I am Yu Bo, a third-year student at the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange in SISU. As is known to all, it’s difficult for foreigners to learn Chinese. What is difficult? I think it is writing Chinese characters, which are squares with strokes in the eyes of foreigners and totally distinct from letters. The changes in the strokes of Chinese characters also differ from those in English. A stroke can be a straight or fold line, an arc or a dot.

When I started to learn calligraphy, however, my views changed completely. I didn’t know how to write characters when I used a brush for the first time and thus we started from copying. Gradualy, I found the charm of calligraphy, writing boring squre characters like painting. Everyone can develop his own style since each stroke can be written in various manners.

Yu Mengyue  NAHEED USWA  Pakistan

Calligraphy can beautify your words. It requires patience and lasting persistence, so you can cultivate your mind while practicing it, which is helpful for improving your personality. That’s why some people believe words are like who write them.

In my viewpoint, we have to grasp the writing of one language when learning it, otherwise we won’t understand it. I started learning calligraphy two months ago also because I like it. At the beginning, I didn’t know how to write, where to use force and where not. However, with the instruction and encouragement of Mr. Yang, I soon got some of the key points of Chinese calligraphy. When writing, I paid attention to the strokes, sizes, etc. of characters all the time.

I think I have to practice many times to write real calligraphy as what the Chinese write, what they cannot figure out to be written by a foreigner and even like the works by Chinese calligraphers. I hope to have another opportunity to experience the beauty of Chinese calligraphy so deeply in the future.

Zhang Daiyun  Thailand

My name is Zhang Daiyun and I am from Class 9, Grade 1 at the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange in SISU. Although I could not write calligraphy in the past, I’ve loved it for a long time. Much to my surprise, I would have the opportunity to attend calligraphy courses when I came to China for the first time. It was very difficult for me at first, but I didn’t shrink back and practiced hard in every class. I made it after some hard work. This time I wrote in official script, a font that Mr. Yang chose for me and I also liked. As a beginner, it was surely rather difficult, but Mr. Yang would instruct me every time I practiced it. He taught me a lot of skills and said “power” for many times but I didn’t understand it until I studied for a few months. Finally, I produced my work. Many thanks to Mr. Yang for teaching us and to the teachers for organizing this event, which also allows me to know so many friends from all over the world. Thus I was very happy every time I went to class.

Zhang Tianyi   Pakistan

My name is Zhang Tianyi and I am from Pakistan. As a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Chinese Internation Education in SISU, I have been studying calligraphy from Professor Yang for almost four months. Chinese calligraphy is a unique traditional art of Chinese characters, which have their own charm and appeal. I was surprised at so many marvelous works by Professor Yang when I came to his studio for the first time. To be honest, I was so fascinated by them that I made up my mind to learn calligraphy to write such beautiful characters. I’ve gained and accumulated a lot during the study. At first, I couldn’t write many strokes well and the characters I wrote were all twisted, so I was thinking I couldn’t master calligraphy. Nevertheless, with the help and tutoring of Mr. Yang, I have learned how to write these strokes step by step and what I write now is much better than before.

Zhang Zhuyang  Kyrgyzstan

I am an undergraduate majoring in Chinese International Education at the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange in Shanghai International Studies University. Usually I write with my left hand for it’s easier for me. Mr. Yang encouraged me to practice calligraphy in a way I was accustomed to, so I also used my left hand for calligraphy. I feel happy to produce satisfactory calligraphy works in such a different way. Many thanks to Mr. Yang for his passionate instruction.

An Hao  Ukraine

I have been living in China for three years and practicing calligraphy for more than two years. As I recall, Mr. Yang said in the first calligraphy class that one’s inner feelings would change when writing calligraphy. When you do calligraphy in spring, you will feel it’s not complicated because you write better and better. But in summer, you will find something difficult to write. Then in autumn, there will be success and tasks that seem hard to cope with. In winter, however, you will get completely disappointed with your competence to write calligraphy and it seems that you can’t write calligraphy all of a sudden. Nevertheless, spring will approach again with fruits, inspiring you and building up your confidence. This is what I’ve gained from my personal experience of learning calligraphy. Now my understanding of calligraphy is different from that at the beginning after studying it for over two years. At this moment, I think the period of practicing it is not only a process of understanding both Chinese culture and mindset, but also a journey to know oneself and discover new internal resources and mental state. Therefore, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Yang for his infinite love and encouragement, especially when I felt frustrated that I couldn’t write calligraphy at all, for the exact calligraphy depth that he helped each student develop in each lesson, and for his wisdom and insight. Calligraphy has not become easy. On the contrary, its beauty, complexity and meaning seem to be bottomless. I am grateful to Mr. Yang and the fate for giving me such a precious opportunity to dig into the infinite space of Chinese calligraphy.