Feng Chia Cup Calligraphy Contest Promotes Traditional Chinese Characters in Malaysia

(CNA reporter Huang Tzu-chiang, Kuala Lumpur, July 13) Amid rapid changes in global Chinese writing environments, Malaysian alumni of Taiwan universities have long promoted Taiwan's traditional Chinese characters through the Feng Chia Cup calligraphy competition. In 2022, the event was officially recognized by Malaysia's Ministry of Education as an extracurricular activity eligible for academic bonus points. This year, it attracted 14,600 students, making it a major force in preserving traditional Chinese characters overseas.

The 17th 'Feng Chia Cup' National High School Traditional Chinese Character Calligraphy Competition recently opened in Klang, Malaysia, and was listed in the 'Malaysia Book of Records' in 2023.

Beyond the sustained efforts of Taiwan-educated alumni, the Taipei School in Kuala Lumpur also serves as a key stronghold for promoting traditional Chinese characters abroad. The school currently enrolls students from 14 countries and regions, including Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, France, and the United States, continuously expanding its cultural influence.

Shen Li-zhen, principal of Sekolah Menengah Persendirian Chong Hwa, Klang, emphasized that calligraphy is more than just writing—it carries culture, history, and character education. Each stroke embodies the wisdom of ancestors and serves as a vital medium for cultural transmission.

She noted that the Malaysia Alumni Association of Feng Chia University organizes the traditional character calligraphy competition not only to preserve the art of calligraphy but also to guide Malaysian youth in understanding cultural depth through writing, ensuring that cultural heritage is passed down through generations.

Shen added that when young people pick up a brush to write traditional characters, they are not merely creating artworks—they are also cultivating focus, patience, and perseverance, becoming active participants in cultural inheritance.

Hung Ting-kuo, president of the Malaysia Alumni Association of Feng Chia University, stated that the competition aims not only to nurture calligraphy talent but also to allow more youth to experience cultural continuity through the act of writing.

He pointed out that while artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly advanced and can now replace many text-based tasks, the humanistic value represented by calligraphy remains irreplaceable. The alumni association will continue visiting secondary schools across Malaysia to promote traditional character calligraphy and encourage participation from Malay, Indian, and other ethnic groups, enabling them to engage with Chinese culture through calligraphy.

Hung expressed hope that the 'Feng Chia Cup' will evolve beyond a national competition to become a model for cultural preservation led by Taiwan-educated alumni, ensuring that traditional Chinese character culture continues to take root in Malaysia.

Pu Cheng-min, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, noted that Chinese characters embody language, art, and philosophical thinking. Traditional characters fully preserve the logic of Chinese character formation and cultural depth, serving as a crucial carrier of Chinese culture.

He emphasized that Taiwan has long promoted traditional character education, and these characters are not merely linguistic tools but also vessels of cultural meaning. Through calligraphy, one can appreciate the beauty of Chinese characters and gain deeper insight into their historical and cultural backgrounds.

Additionally, one participating student shared that opportunities to engage with traditional characters in regular school settings are limited. Through the calligraphy competition, they not only learned stroke order but also began to understand the cultural significance behind each character. The student expressed a desire to deepen their understanding of the cultural values embedded in Taiwan's use of traditional characters. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150713