Asking for calligraphy letters- one of the Vietnamese customs at the beginning of the year still exists today through many historical ups and downs. The soft, flexible handwriting calligraphy contains the wishes of a good, lucky and peaceful new year.
Despite many life changes, the familiar images of men with ink, red paper, turbans, and shirts on the street still appear. People and families are eager to go together to ask for calligraphy letters as if to adorn the Vietnamese New Year’s days more brightly and warmly.
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History of the custom of Asking Calligraphy Letters for the New Year
It is not clear when the custom of asking for calligraphy letters originated. Still, since learning developed, since many people want their children to have more words to open their eyes, the tradition of asking for letters has received more and more attention.
In everyday life, people understand an inevitable rule: everything will be done as long as there is diligence and hard work. However, it also takes a bit of luck in everything. For example, the rice blooms in a rainstorm are losing a farmer’s hard-working season. Therefore, every spring, the King and Lord at the court held the Tich Dien Ceremony, and in the countryside, the old farmers held the Field Down Ceremony, as if to pray for heaven and earth to bless the harvest. So is Taoism. Learning crystallizes many factors: a good teacher, a good student, and a little luck studying and taking exams. Ask for the words of the Holy Sage as a guarantee of the Holy Fairy when arranging for me to visit the list of successful people.
Asking for calligraphy letters on New Year’s Eve is also a way to show their respect for religion. Only when respecting ethics and respecting teachers can one make more remarkable strides on the learning path. As our ancestors crystallized in the folk song: “If you want to go to school, you need to bridge Kieu/ If you want your children to be good, you must love your teacher.” Calligraphy Letters, especially the word Confucianism, were highly respected in the previous era. The word is not only a means of expressing information. It also shows the character and dignity of a person.
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The ups and downs of the custom of asking for calligraphy letters for the New Year
Asking for calligraphy letters on the Tet holiday came to the Vietnamese people a long time ago, but the records of history books are incomplete and rarely expressed. Nearly a century ago, poet Vu Dinh Lien saw the change of asking for letters in the community. The older man gradually disappeared in the flow of the times.
The custom of asking for traditional calligraphy letters was forgotten for most of the 20th century because Confucianism was an obstacle to Westernization and the country’s business. The typographers and the people who asked for letters were absent from the city to the countryside, thinking that this custom would be buried with no chance of reappearing in contemporary life.
But as time passes, the custom of asking for calligraphy letters is gradually returning. People gradually discover beautiful things in this custom. Everyone wants to have more words to start a business when they come into life.
What letter do you ask for at the beginning of the year?
Chinese characters are derived from hieroglyphs, so it is like a picture, full of meaningful content, so for a long time, it has been elevated to an art – calligraphy art with the Five Worlds: Triện – Lệ – Hành – Thảo – Chân. Calligraphy has many styles of play, from tiny urns used to hang apricot trees to large calligraphy hanging on the wall. Besides calligraphy written on curtain paper and bamboo, calligraphy products are also on wood and ceramic bowls.
The asking person will ask for letters depending on the purpose and desire of the year. Adults often like the words “Phúc (Blessings),” “Lộc (Fortune),” “Thọ (Long Life),” “An Khang (Health),” “Cat Tuong (Best Luck),” “Như Ý (One’s liking),” etc., with the desire to pray for their life peace and happiness. Entrepreneurs like the words “Phát (Development),” “Lộc (Fortune),” “Tài (Money),” “Vượng (Wealth)”, … hope for business and business to be developed and convenient.
Many young people who are striving, like the word “Chí,” the word “Thành,” “Đạt,” “Đắc,” and “Nhẫn.” The term “Chi” means the will to overcome all difficulties. The word “Thành” means doing the job,” “Đạt” means satisfying one’s wants, needs, goals, etc. As for children and students, parents and grandparents often give them the words “Học,” “Hiếu,” “Nghĩa,” “Lễ” to hang on the top of the desk with the desire to have politeness and filial piety and study hard, progressive spirit, etc.
Despite the many ups and downs of life, people still try to preserve the inherent beauty of tradition. Because it is the spirit, soul, and culture of the nation, those are the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of people in the new year, legitimate and humane wishes.
