The soul of Xiamen is often found in its serene coastal vistas, the melodic Minnan dialect, and the fragrant steam rising from a cup of oolong tea. Yet, there is a deeper rhythm to this island city, one etched not in sand but in ink. It flows from the tip of a brush, a silent yet profound expression of its cultural heartbeat: calligraphy. In Xiamen, this ancient art is not confined to museum galleries or silent studies; it is a living, breathing participant in the city’s festive calendar. To visit Xiamen is to witness a unique travel phenomenon where tourism, tradition, and seasonal celebration converge on sheets of rice paper, offering a culturally immersive experience unlike any other.
Before diving into the festivals, one must understand the canvas. Xiamen’s artistic heritage is deeply intertwined with the scholarly traditions of southern Fujian. The city itself is a study in elegant contrasts—colonial-era architecture alongside sleek skyscrapers, tranquil Gulangyu Island against the bustling Zhongshan Road. Calligraphy here is a bridge between these worlds.
For the culturally curious traveler, calligraphy is an accessible and captivating trail. Start at the Nanputuo Temple. Here, amidst the incense and chanting, look up. The temple’s plaques and inscribed couplets are masterclasses in powerful, solemn script, often containing Buddhist wisdom and blessings. Each character, carved into wood or stone, carries centuries of devotion.
Next, wander through the Xiamen University campus, reputed as one of China’s most beautiful. Its Chen Jiageng Memorial Hall and campus monuments frequently feature inscriptions by modern masters, blending academic spirit with artistic grace. Then, head to Zhongshan Park. In the early morning, you’ll find the true living practice. On the flagstone grounds, local masters wield giant brushes dipped in water, writing poetic verses that gleam momentarily before evaporating in the sun—a ephemeral art performance open to all. This is not just sightseeing; it’s witnessing a daily meditation.
For a hands-on encounter, studios in the Gulangyu historical district or the Hulishan Fortress area offer short workshops. Under guidance, you can grasp the bamboo brush, feel the texture of the ink stone, and attempt your first strokes. The struggle to balance ink and pressure is humbling, transforming appreciation into deep respect. These workshops have become a significant tourism hotspot, providing an authentic, quiet counterpoint to the usual shopping and photography.
Xiamen’s true calligraphic magic, however, unfolds in sync with its lunar and cultural festivals. Here, art becomes communal, celebratory, and deeply symbolic.
No event rivals the Chinese New Year for calligraphic spectacle. Weeks before the festival, the city’s commercial buzz shifts to a cultural one. Streets, especially near traditional markets like Bazhong, are lined with temporary stalls draped in vibrant red paper. These are not just for sale; they are stages.
Master calligraphers, often elderly scholars or respected community figures, set up desks outdoors. Crowds gather, waiting patiently as the artist prepares the ink. The request is usually for a Chunlian (Spring Festival couplet). A popular choice is “福” (Fu), the character for “good fortune.” But the artistry lies in the execution—will it be in bold, confident Kaishu (regular script) or fluid, ancient Zhuanshu (seal script)? The master might even invert the “福,” a playful tradition meaning “fortune has arrived.” For tourists, securing a hand-brushed Chunlian is a priceless souvenir, far more meaningful than a mass-produced trinket. It’s a direct connection to the local wish for prosperity, a piece of Xiamen’s hopeful spirit to take home.
As the summer heat wanes and the moon waxes fullest, Xiamen celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival. Calligraphy here takes a more poetic, introspective turn. Thematic gatherings, or Yaji, are held in classical gardens like those in Jimei School Village or on terraces overlooking the sea. Participants compose and transcribe classical poems about the moon, longing, and reunion.
The content shifts from blessings of fortune to elegant verses from Li Bai or Su Shi. The style often becomes more cursive (Xingshu or Caoshu), mirroring the flowing emotions of the festival. For visitors, attending a public Yaji or a themed hotel event is a chance to see calligraphy as social art, accompanied by tea tasting and mooncake sampling—a multisensory cultural package.
The Lantern Festival, marking the end of the New Year celebrations, brings a playful, riddling side of calligraphy to the fore. Intricate lanterns are adorned with Dengmi (lantern riddles), often written in beautiful, cryptic calligraphy. Solving the riddle requires deciphering the script and the clever wordplay within. Parks and the Overseas Chinese Museum often host these events, where families and tourists alike puzzle over the elegant brushstrokes, blending intellectual challenge with artistic admiration.
Beyond these major events, calligraphy surfaces during the Dragon Boat Festival, with inscriptions on banners, and the Qixi Festival, where love poems are brushed onto delicate fans. Each festival provides a new context, a new textual content, making the art form perpetually fresh and relevant.
Xiamen has skillfully woven this traditional art into its modern tourism tapestry. It’s no longer a static exhibit but an interactive experience.
The Xiamen Art Museum and the Min-Nan Culture Research Center host special festival-themed exhibitions, showcasing historical and contemporary calligraphic works related to the celebration. Meanwhile, the creative industries have leapt into action. You can find calligraphy-inspired designs everywhere: the swoop of a “永” (forever) character printed on stylish T-shirts sold in Zengcuoan’s boutique shops; minimalist jewelry shaped like brush strokes; elegant tea packaging featuring famous local inscriptions. High-end hotels offer “ink meditation” sessions as part of their wellness packages. This commodification, when done respectfully, extends the art’s reach, allowing tourists to engage with it on multiple levels.
Perhaps the most fascinating modern evolution is calligraphy’s presence on social media. During festivals, hashtags like #XiamenInk bloom. Masters and amateurs alike post slow-motion videos of brushes gliding across paper, the ink spreading like a dance. Time-lapses of a Chunlian being created garner thousands of likes. This digital performance not only attracts a global audience but also fuels tourism. Travel vloggers feature their calligraphy workshop experiences, positioning it as a “must-do” authentic activity. The ancient art form, through these modern lenses, becomes a dynamic, shareable part of Xiamen’s brand—a city of both natural beauty and profound cultural depth.
To stroll through Xiamen during a festival is to walk through a city-wide gallery of momentary masterpieces. The red couplets pasted on doorways, the poetic banners fluttering in the sea breeze, the water-written characters vanishing on sun-warmed stone—all are chapters in an ongoing story written in ink. For the traveler, engaging with this art is an invitation to move beyond the surface. It is a dialogue with history, a participation in celebration, and a way to carry home not just an image, but a feeling—the steady, graceful pulse of Xiamen, where every festival is an occasion to pick up the brush and write joy, hope, and beauty into the world.
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Author: Xiamen Travel
Link: https://xiamentravel.github.io/travel-blog/xiamen-calligraphy-celebrating-festivals-with-art.htm
Source: Xiamen Travel
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