Kelantan: Chinese New Year decorations featuring Chinese calligraphy are much more than just artistic strokes of black ink on red paper, they represent a timeless ritual through which Chinese families convey their hopes for prosperity, harmony and renewal, displayed prominently at the entrance of their homes as they usher in the new year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in Kelantan, this centuries-old heritage art form continues to live on in the hands of its practitioners, transcending cultures and generations, as Chinese calligraphy becomes a bridge that unites tradition, belief, and human values in a single soulful brushstroke.
Kelantan Calligraphy Association treasurer, Yeap Keng Hwa, explained that calligraphy commonly written for Chinese New Year celebrations is known as chun lian, or spring couplets - paired inscriptions pasted on the left and right sides of house doors - while the shorter inscription placed above the door is known as hengpi. He noted that the use of red paper symbolizes spirit, courage, and good fortune, with phrases that usually carry motivational meanings and prayers for a better new year.
'The calligraphy are not mere decorations; they carry greetings, hopes, and prayers. For the Year of the Horse, for example, many phrases include elements of the horse, which symbolizes speed, success, and good fortune,' he told Bernama recently.
Yeap highlighted that demand for calligraphy services typically increases one to two months before Chinese New Year, with requests coming from schools, shopping centers, associations, and night markets selling festive goods. He is also invited to conduct calligraphy demonstrations and workshops at various locations, including Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, as well as several supermarkets and community programs across Kelantan.
Yeap shared his journey in calligraphy, which spans nearly 20 years, sparked by an interest in childhood and nurtured by teachers who recognized the potential in his handwriting. 'In the past, I was asked to submit my writing three times a week. The teacher would comment, point out what was beautiful and what needed improvement. Those words of praise motivated me,' he said, adding that he initially felt nervous writing in public, but his confidence grew with practice and experience.
The key skill in calligraphy, Yeap said, is not merely technique but continuity, natural flow, and the 'spirit' of the writing that emerges from the calligrapher's soul. 'The writing must appear as a single whole; it cannot be that one word looks beautiful while another feels disconnected. Simplicity is the hardest, because what appears very simple often turns out to be the most complex,' he explained. Inspiration is spontaneous, and the writing must be done in a single uninterrupted flow to appear alive.
Innovation in calligraphy is important, Yeap noted, including shaping characters to resemble zodiac symbols such as horses or snakes without losing the original structure of Chinese characters. Interest in the art is vibrant, even among youths in their early 20s from Pulai, Gua Musang, who actively discuss and analyze the beauty of calligraphy together. 'We hold calligraphy classes once a month. Our hope is that this art will continue as a heritage and a cultural bridge,' he said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Calligraphy Association committee member Yeoh Eng Chew emphasized that Chinese calligraphy is a traditional culture that is centuries old but remains relevant today. He described hui chun or chun lian as a crucial element of Chinese New Year celebrations, symbolizing hopes for success, prosperity, and the well-being of families and businesses. 'The four main tools in Chinese calligraphy are known as the Four Treasures - the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone,' Yeoh mentioned.
Yeoh, originally from Penang and residing in Kelantan since 1985, remarked that despite the rapid development of digital technology, calligraphy retains its relevance as a medium for conveying values, culture, and identity.