Calligraphy Workshop Brings Creativity and Culture to the Spring World Unite Festival

Calligraphy Workshop Brings Creativity and Culture to the Spring World Unite Festival

The Business Confucius Institute at the University of Leeds (BCI) hosted a vibrant Chinese Calligraphy Workshop on Tuesday 10 March, welcoming many attendees at the  Leeds University Union’s for a hands‑on introduction to one of China’s most enduring artistic traditions. The free lunchtime session invited participants to explore the beauty, history, and technique behind traditional brush writing.

The workshop was led by BCI Chinese Teacher Zixuan Hao, whose demonstrations and cultural insights guided participants through the foundations of calligraphy. She was supported by BCI Head Teacher Li Tao, who offered additional historical context and one‑to‑one guidance throughout the practical activities.

As part of the Spring World Unite Festival, the workshop contributed to a wider programme that “celebrates the diversity of Leeds. To capture the breadth of cultures in Leeds, the festival offers a great selection of activities, including singing, dancing, language exchanges, workshops, food, academic presentations and discussions. Each event encourages you to consider differing perspectives on a variety of topics relevant to internationalisation.”

Participants began by learning about the evolution of Chinese characters, discovering how their forms have changed over thousands of years. They were introduced to the tools of calligraphy; brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones and explored how each contributes to producing expressive, balanced strokes.

The practical portion of the workshop saw attendees practicing basic calligraphy strokes, guided closely by the teaching team. A highlight for many was receiving their own Chinese name, which they then practiced writing using the techniques they had just learned. To add a warm finishing touch, everyone received stickers as small gifts, creating a memorable end to the session.