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The Origin of Chinese Characters and the Nature of Calligraphy

汉字的产生与书法的性质

December 14, 2024

9:30 - 11:30 AM EST

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For nearly 2,000 years, Chinese people has transformed the act of writing characters into the art of calligraphy, a unique practice elevating the practicality of writing characters into an exceptional art form with rare similarities among other cultures in the world. Through the interplay of black and white, dots and lines, Chinese calligraphy embodies both intellectual creativity and emotional expression. The spiritual essence conveyed through calligraphy is deeply intertwined with the rich traditions of Chinese culture.

In this online seminar, Prof. Shuqiang Cui will guide participants to explore the relationship between Chinese characters and calligraphy, as well as the distinction between everyday writing and calligraphy as an art form. Participants will also learn how to appreciate the aesthetics of calligraphy and reflect on the meaning and value of studying calligraphy today.

2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.

For questions, please contact Yongqiang Lin at [email protected]

This program is made possible through the support of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, the ECNU Center, and generous supporters of China Institute in America.

Speaker
Shuqiang Cui 崔树强

Shuqiang Cui, PhD in Philosophy from Peking University, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Postdoctoral Mentor, and Vice Dean of the College of Fine Arts, East China Normal University (ECNU). He is also the Director of the ECNU Research Center for Chinese Calligraphy Education and Psychology, member of the ECNU Degree Evaluation Committee, and leader of the Fine Arts and Calligraphy Degree Evaluation Group. He serves as a member of the Chinese Calligraphy Education Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education, the 7th Education Committee and the 8th Academic Committee of the China Calligraphers Association, and a researcher at the Aesthetics and Aesthetic Education Research Center of Peking University.

Prof. Cui primarily engages in calligraphy teaching, creation, and research, with his research interests focusing on the aesthetics of calligraphy and the history and theory of calligraphy. He is currently the chief expert of the major national social science project “Research on the Construction of the Aesthetic Theory System of Chinese Calligraphy,” and the head of the national social science key project in the arts, “General History of Chinese Calligraphy Aesthetics (Four Volumes).” He has published 10 books, including the monograph The Thought of Qi and Chinese Calligraphy, and has served as editor and co-author of 9 books, including General Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy (4 volumes) and Core Literacy in Calligraphy. He has published more than 130 academic papers and held a solo exhibition of his calligraphy works in Shanghai in 2019.

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