The Spring Calligraphy Festival is a unique cultural event welcoming the Lunar New Year, celebrating heritage, history, and knowledge through 100 masterpieces of Han-Nom and modern Vietnamese calligraphy.

The Spring Calligraphy Festival 2025 and the accompanying Practical Learning exhibition were inaugurated at Ho Van (Lake of Literature), part of the Special National Relic of the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.

According to Dr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Temple of Literature Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities, this year’s festival features a wide range of activities, including the traditional practice of giving and receiving calligraphy for the New Year.

Visitors can experience 47 carefully curated calligraphy booths, alongside cultural programs such as heritage education, a reading space, displays of traditional handicraft products, folk games, chess matches, lion dances, and performances of traditional art forms like quan ho (folk singing), ca tru (ceremonial singing), and cheo (traditional opera).

These activities are spread across various areas, including Noi Tu (the Inner Sanctuary), the Garden of Literature, and Ho Van.

Showcasing 'Practical Learning' and cultural heritage

The Practical Learning exhibition is a highlight of this year’s festival. Dr. Le Xuan Kieu emphasized the importance of this theme, noting that the pursuit of “practical knowledge and true talent” is more relevant than ever.

“In an era where Vietnam is advancing strongly in its renewal journey and striving to stand alongside global powers, Practical Learning becomes a valuable reminder,” he said.

At the heart of the exhibition are 18 calligraphy pillars inscribed with the Essay on Learning by Emperor Le Thanh Tong. This emperor, renowned for his governance and efforts to foster education and cultural development, played a key role in elevating Vietnam’s imperial examination system to its peak during his reign.

These works, created by ten distinguished calligraphers in a variety of styles, encapsulate the renewal and vitality of the Lunar New Year. They reflect the brightness of spring and the festive atmosphere of the approaching Tet holiday.

Complementing the pillars are 14 large horizontal calligraphy panels featuring various scripts, including trien, le, chan, hanh thao (seal, clerical, standard, semi-cursive), written in both Han and Nom characters. These panels convey themes of learning and education, celebrating the legacy of the Temple of Literature and the thousand-year-old Thang Long (modern-day Hanoi).

A blossoming symbol of knowledge and creativity

The centerpiece of the exhibition is a radiant, lotus-shaped installation illuminated with vibrant colors. This structure comprises 200 square-framed Vietnamese calligraphy works, symbolizing the essence of Practical Learning and embodying the spirit of “true talent.”

By combining light and calligraphy, the exhibition creates a visually stunning artistic display. The interplay of illuminated calligraphic characters across the space offers a distinctive and unforgettable sensory experience.

The Spring Calligraphy Festival and Practical Learning exhibition will run until February 9, 2025 (the 12th day of the first lunar month).

Tinh Le