This morning I attended a symposium in which Prof. Wu, an amateur calligrapher and an erstwhile classmate of mine, delivered a lecture on the topic of "contemporary calligraphy in Taiwan".  Prof. Wu introduced the works of Ms. Dong Yangzi(董陽孜), Mr. Yu Youren(于右任), Mr. Pu Xinyu(溥心畬), and two others who were born after 1949.

I really don't know much about the art of Chinese calligraphy; to tell you the truth, neither can I handle the brushes well to write with.  But I always think writing Chinese characters with brushes takes high spirit of concentration if you deem it as the practice of calligraphy, and I also think writing with brushes is a mild exercise for aged persons.  Therefore, concentration without distracting thoughts pluses mild exercises will be just beneficial to the old guys like us.  (My father used to immerse himself in practicing calligraphy when he had retired.  But it's kind of too late for me to follow suit, so I'll stick to the keyboard on my notebook.)

Like genuine painting, every penmanship from writing a Chinese character with a brush represents the mental activities of the calligraphers; in other words, it's the process of catharsis to the writers as well as to the viewers.  So great calligraphies must be great arts, and great calligraphers must be great artists, too. 

The art of calligraphy pertains to Chinese characters only.  Unlike the penmanship of letters or symbols, which boast of a variety of forms and skills such as quirks and cursive handwritings, Chinese calligraphers are able to give every character of its own life.  Life makes a big difference.