Calligraphy connects China and Zimbabwe

Dou Yuchen (center) presents her calligraphy to Fusion 5 Mangwiro members at the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center in Harare, Zimbabwe, on July 9. ZHAO YUCHEN/FOR CHINA DAILY

At the "I Am Mbare" community school near the slums of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, over 30 children sat in neat rows in the small schoolyard. Their eyes were wide with curiosity as I unrolled my calligraphy work, displaying the Chinese characters "sheng sheng bu xi" — which literally translates to "live, live, never stop" — as my encouragement for the kids to grow and thrive.

I read the words aloud and explained their meaning. I was impressed as the children excitedly tried to imitate me, showing their interest in my calligraphy and the Chinese language. The small yard was filled with their enthusiasm.

This happened during a field trip I took from July 1 to 9 as part of the Tsinghua University Global Competency Overseas Practicum Course. The course sent four teams to various countries as part of a summer program in 2024, and I was selected as a member of the team visiting Zimbabwe.

This small-scale, in-depth, handson course aims to cultivate students with a global vision and a Chinese stance, facilitating future people-to-people connections.

During my time in Zimbabwe, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my calligraphy talents played a significant role in cultural exchanges.

One of the highlights was the First Harare Forum for Africa-Rural Development Cooperation and China-Zimbabwe Civilizational Dialogue Academic Week, held on July 8.

At the beginning of the forum, we engaged in a series of activities with local artists. While my fellow team members sang Welcome to Beijing, I created four calligraphy pieces, one of which read "Sino-Zimbabwean friendship lasts forever". I presented these pieces on stage at the end of the song, receiving an enthusiastic response.

In addition to my performance at the forum, I dedicated time each evening in my hotel room to create calligraphy tailored for the people we were to visit the next day.

For example, I wrote "sheng sheng bu xi" again for artists from the Mbare Art Space and a popular local musical group called Fusion 5 Mangwiro. This time, however, I changed the first "sheng", meaning life, to a different character also pronounced "sheng", meaning voice, creating a homophonic effect.

My efforts were well-received, as the Zimbabweans' initial surprise at my calligraphy turned into delight, recognition, and gratitude after I explained the meanings to them. This gave me a profound sense of accomplishment and firsthand experience in cultural exchanges.

As Napoleon Nyanhi, director of the National Arts Council Zimbabwe, stated in his keynote speech at the forum: "When it comes to mutual respect, it's important that we put the arts first because the arts can help us develop affinity."

He believes that storytelling through artworks fosters curiosity about each other's cultures, which boosts understanding and cooperation between nations.

I empathized with his words, as I will never forget when the principal of Tafara 5 Primary School received my calligraphy work and asked about the brushes I use and where he could learn the art form. I introduced him to the Confucius Institute, and he, in turn, introduced me to the Zimbabwean education system. Conversations like these, sparked by calligraphy, made me realize the infinite possibilities that curiosity can open up for people.

My fellow team member Jiang Yifan, an undergraduate majoring in philosophy, politics, and economics, shared his reflections after the forum.

"It is only when we set foot in a foreign land that we realize the significance of our own culture. To truly promote it, we need a realistic means of expression, be it art, literature, or craft," he said. "After appreciating the calligraphy today, I feel I should explore my roots to better understand who I am and where I am going."

This experience in Zimbabwe has made me realize the power of art to bridge differences. These valuable connections will stay with me, inspiring me to continue sharing Chinese culture while remaining open to others. As I return to Tsinghua, I carry with me not just cherished memories but also a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the importance of mutual respect and curiosity in fostering global friendships.

Written by Dou Yuchen, 20, a sophomore majoring in philosophy at Rixin College, Tsinghua University.