On 13^th January 2018 the first round of Examinations of the professional skills of calligraphers of  the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018 was carried out at The Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam. In total there were 97 examinees, this included 74 Han-Nôm script writers and 10 Vietnamese script writers.

The Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam and the liaison committee of the department of the HaNoi Calligraphy Club have co-ordinated and organized the Spring Calligraphy Festival at the Literature Lake of Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam since 2014. Their aim has been to maintain the traditional culture of the nation and for people visiting Van Mieu – Quoc tu Giam to enjoy traditional culture during the lunar new year celebrations.

(Photo: Examinees are listening to the examination regulations)

At the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018, The Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities Van Mieu– QuocTuGiam organized the Examinations in order to enhance the quality of calligraphers. Han-Nôm script writers and  Vietnamese script writers have the chance to show their skill and calligraphy works, and visitors get to see beautiful calligraphy works as well.

(Photo: Director of The Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities Van Mieu– Quoc Tu Giam is answering the questions from the examinees about the examination regulations)

The examination of the calligraphy writers for the Spring Calligraphy Festival 2018 included 2 rounds:

- The first round: to choose calligraphy writers who could write calligraphy with correct content and calligraphy specifications.

- The second round: Those who passed the 1st round present two chosen calligraphy works to be judged.  Those who passed the 2nd round would receive a card allowing them to write calligraphy at the Spring Calligraphy Festival for the next three years.

(Photo: Supervisors place the registration number in the examination room)

(Photo: Examiners)

The examination was held under strict conditions. In total there were 97 examinees, of these only 55 passed the exam, and this included 45 Han-Nôm script writers and 10 Vietnamese script writers

(Photo: Examiners)

The Annual Spring Calligraphy Festival has become a cultural event of interest for local residents during the lunar new year celebrations.

Translator: Le Huong