Ashgabat was visited by a distinguished delegation of cultural figures from the People’s Republic of China. During their visit, the guests are becoming acquainted with the rich heritage of the Turkmen people and sharing the traditions of the ancient culture of the Celestial Empire.

One of the highlights of the program was a visit to the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan, where members of the delegation conducted a master class on the art of calligraphy. This art form, which originated more than three thousand years ago, combines refined brush technique with a profound philosophy of self-cultivation.

Qian Li, a member of the Shanghai International Culture Association, spoke in detail to the students about the history and aesthetics of calligraphy.

In ancient China, mastery of “beautiful writing” was a mandatory requirement for candidates taking the state examinations. Professor Xu Bin, an expert in media and culture, explained the artistic expressiveness and etymology of individual Chinese characters.

The audience also showed great interest in the presentation by Yen Peng Dong, an actress of the Peking Opera. She demonstrated classical writing techniques, introduced participants to the traditional tools of the calligrapher, and showed working methods on demonstration sheets.

The culmination of the meeting was the practical session. Students were able to write the Chinese characters they had studied under the guidance of the masters.

The event was held as part of the celebration of the Chinese New Year (the Spring Festival, Chunjie), which is included in UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.