The Chinese New Year is around the corner. To promote traditional calligraphy culture and add to the festive atmosphere, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall of Ministry of Culture held the spring couplets writing activity “Soaring Dragon Brings Happiness” to symbolize auspiciousness, success, and happiness in 2024, the Year of Dragon.
Spring couplets writing is to express the expectation towards a prosperous new year. This year’s first-writing ceremony invited 14 distinguished guests, including Political Deputy Minister of Culture Su Wang, Director-general Wang Lan-sheng of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei City Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua, General Manager Janus Lee of Farglory Dome, Director Chen Yu-hsiu of Songshan Culture and Creative Park, Chairman Lian Sheng-Yan of Danlu Foundation, Calligraphy Chair Yang Shu-tang of China Academy of Culture and Arts, Director Tsai Ming-tzan of Calligraphy Education Monthly, Chairman Lin Liang-yin of The Republic of China Society for Calligraphy Education, Dean Huang Chih-yang of College of Humanities and Arts, Huafan University, President Lai Jun-xian of Taipei Municipal Guangfu Elementary School, and the winners of Chungshan Youth Art Awards, Ye Zong-he, Ye Xiu-hong, and Liu Yan-chun, to write the spring couplets created by famous calligrapher Lian Sheng-yan, “The world is joyfully greeting good fortune; people everywhere sings the praises of peace.”
Director-general Wang Lan-sheng of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall said, “The hall has held the Live Demonstration for Spring Festival for years. This year’s activity features good neighbors. It is an honor to invite the commissioners of Ministry of Culture and Taipei City Government, chairmen and teachers of the calligraphy societies that have been supportive in the part years, and good neighbors, Guangfu Elementary School and Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. The landscape renovation of Chungshan Cultural Park has been officially completed and well-received by citizens of all walks of life. At the first-writing ceremony, it is the first time to stage the dragon and lion dance performance in front of the Reflecting Pool. The Reflecting Pool has become an important attraction for visitors to check in on social media. The Auditorium will undergo renovation in the future. As an important member of the cultural and art world, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall will continue to shoulder the responsibility to implement cultural policies. Today’s spring couplets writing activity will bring good luck to everyone in the year of dragon.”
Political Deputy Minister of Culture Su Wang said, “National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall will be closed for renovation this year. After renovation, it will return to the center of cultural events in the future. Today’s live demonstration for Spring Festival is very meaningful. It is an activity not only expected by the citizens every year but also encouraging the cultural inheritance of calligraphy art and greeting the happiness and auspiciousness of Spring Festival at the same time.”
Taipei City Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua said, “National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is located at the cultural hub with Taipei City Hall, Taipei 101, Xinyi Commercial District, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taipei Dome, and National Railway Museum nearby. It has always been the citizens’ favorite place. I look forward to the coming renovation of the hall that will not only enrich the cultural heritage of Taipei City but also make the cultural venue more beautiful.” By participating in today’s spring couplets writing activity, he promoted calligraphy art and wished everyone a happy Chinese New Year at the same time.
Since 2005, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall has held the Live Demonstration for Spring Festival before the Chinese New Year. Besides adding to the festive atmosphere, it is also hoped to acquaint the public with calligraphy more and pass on this traditional art through the custom of writing spring couplets. Today’s activity started with the dragon and lion dance performed by Keelung Changxing Master Lu’s Dragon and Lion Troupe, which won the championship at 2023 Longtan Lion Dance Competition. Lilian Dance Studio was specially invited to perform three dances. Among them, the performance of the dancers with Down syndrome was particularly heartwarming. Besides, thirty calligraphy groups were invited to set up booths on the east and west corridors of the hall, where calligraphers wrote spring couplets and gave them to the visitors. Ms. Chen Xiu-qin of the hall’s lifestyle aesthetics class demonstrated how to make paper-cut window decorations on the scene to bring more festive atmosphere. It was a successful conclusion of today’s activity. For more information, please visit the official website of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, www.yatsen.gov.tw, or call the service counter, 02-2758-8008#545, 546.