On January 10, international students at Shanghai International Studies University from South Korea, Spain, Egypt and Benin gathered together in Professor Yang Jianwen’s studio to learn to write Spring Festival couplets, in a way to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival — the grandest and most important annual event for Chinese people. Professor Yang and several other calligraphy teachers showed the students how to write the Chinese character “Fu”, meaning fortune, in ancient Chinese seal style and other calligraphy styles. In China, people write calligraphy on red paper to greet the arrival of the lunar New Year.

Calligraphy teacher showing proper brush strokes [Photo/Zhou Bo]

Calligraphy teacher showing students how to write “Fu” [Photo/Zhou Bo]

International students writing the Chinese character “Fu” [Photo/Zhou Bo]

Professor Yang showing international students how to write in cursive [Photo/Zhou Bo]

International students presenting their calligraphy works [Photo/Zhou Bo]

International students presenting their calligraphy works [Photo/Zhou Bo]

International students presenting their calligraphy works [Photo/Zhou Bo]