谢谢大家！

Upholding Tradition and Forging Ahead: The Cultural Power in Calligraphy Inheritance

Respected President Tan Eng Chye, colleagues, and students:

Good morning!

Standing on the podium of the National University of Singapore and gathering with all of you amidst the fragrance of ink and books, I feel deeply honored. This visit, led by our delegation, is not only an important opportunity for academic exchange between our two universities but also a cross-border cultural dialogue—when the regular script brushwork of Ouyang Xun meets the diverse cultural context of the Lion City, this collision itself confirms the world value of China's excellent traditional culture.

With a history of thousands of years, Chinese calligraphy has long transcended mere writing skills and become a spiritual carrier bearing cultural genes. Among them, Ouyang Xun's regular script (Ou Kai) has forged the peak paradigm of regular script art with its characteristics of "strict rules and dangerous yet dignified style." I was introduced to calligraphy by my grandfather at the age of six and have practiced tirelessly for decades. My deepest insight is: the inheritance of calligraphy has never been mechanical reproduction, but the precise grasp of artistic essence and the profound continuation of spiritual core.

In the inheritance of brushwork, the essence of Ou Kai lies in its systematic method of "combining hidden and exposed strokes, and using both square and round forms." We pursue horizontal strokes like pine roots taking hold and vertical strokes like pillars supporting the sky, not to deliberately imitate their form, but to recreate their inherent texture of "steel-like strength." This skill originates from repeated study of classic inscriptions such as "Ninefold Palace," ultimately reaching the realm where "every stroke has a source and every character abides by ancient methods." Furthermore, the structural feature of "compact middle palace and expanded surroundings" subtly embodies the philosophical wisdom of "upholding the mean and achieving harmony" in traditional Chinese culture.

Some ask, what is the significance of upholding traditional calligraphy in the digital age? I believe the answer lies between the brush and ink. During yesterday's Ou Kai and running script experience class, seeing the concentration of all teachers and students when picking up and putting down the brush, I deeply felt: calligraphy is a medium of communication beyond language. When you grasp the rhythm of strokes on rice paper, you are actually engaging in a spiritual dialogue with Ouyang Xun from thousands of years ago; when the fragrance of ink spreads, it conveys the Eastern calmness of "still waters run deep." This experience is precisely the most precious spiritual nourishment in the fast-paced era.

Of course, upholding tradition is by no means rigid. In my teaching and creation, I skillfully integrate the flexible brushwork of running script to make Ou Kai radiate vitality amidst dignity. However, this innovation always adheres to the bottom line—all changes must be based on a profound understanding of traditional essence, just as Sun Guoting said, the sublimation of realm after "returning to plainness and correctness." The so-called "innovation" divorced from traditional roots will eventually become water without a source.

The National University of Singapore promotes cultural mutual learning with an open and inclusive attitude, and its cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University is building such a bridge. As a cultural carrier, calligraphy allows us to understand each other's aesthetic pursuits through the interaction of brush and ink; while academic exchanges enable us to凝聚 consensus through ideological collision. This cross-border cultural dissemination is the mission of contemporary scholars.

Finally, may we all draw strength from tradition and broaden our horizons through exchange. Just as the characteristic of Ou Kai—"seemingly tilted yet actually upright"—reveals: only by upholding the fundamentals can we move forward steadily and achieve long-term goals.

Thank you all!

编辑:肖井宏

审核:萧关明