"Hi, Shandong" Laizhou Brushes Make Debut in South Korea, Opening a New Chapter in Cultural Exchange Through Calligraphy

On January 23, the "Ink Charm Sharing Friendship, Spring Couplets Spreading Blessings(墨韵传情，春联送福)" Calligraphy Exchange and Cultural Experience Day event was held at Kunsan National University in Gunsan City, South Korea. Laizhou brushes(莱州毛笔), a representative of Yantai’s intangible cultural heritage, were displayed during the event.   Laizhou brushes are a traditional craft from Laizhou, dating back to the early Qing Dynasty, with a history of nearly 400 years. Once considered one of the four major local tributes, Laizhou brushes are meticulously crafted through over a hundred processes, characterized by four key features: roundness(圆), firmness(健), sharpness(尖), and uniformity(齐).   Before the event, the Laizhou Municipal People’s Government carefully selected Laizhou brushes along with Yantai Spring Festival couplets and "Fu(福, meaning ‘fortune’ in Chinese)" characters written by local calligraphers to convey New Year blessings to Gunsan, South Korea. During the event, local residents in Gunsan were drawn to Chinese calligraphy, eagerly picking up Laizhou brushes to try writing the character "Fu (福) " and experiencing the charm of traditional Chinese calligraphy.   One of Gunsan citizens, Seo Ryu-se, who participated in the event, stated that learning to write the character "Fu (福)" with a Laizhou brush was a unique experience. Through the process of writing, she was able to appreciate the intricacy and elegance of traditional Chinese calligraphy.   This year, Laizhou brushes have been displayed several times in Gunsan, South Korea. At the "New Year Greetings from Yantai" Yantai Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Event on January 10, Laizhou brushes, along with Laizhou grass braids(莱州草辫), were showcased in Gunsan as key representations of Yantai’s intangible cultural heritage.    최지원 기자calligraphy shandong calligraphy exchange chinese calligraphy south korea