Calligraphy is one of the four cultural arts venerated by the ancient Chinese scholars. The venerated four are: Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua or Music, Chess, Calligraphy and Painting which were seen as highly desired personal accomplishments. It was not uncommon to find ancient scholars who were accomplished in all the four arts, because they were recognised as a form of literary culture among the nobles in ancient China. However, in modern society, where everyone is fully occupied in his profession, it is difficult to find someone who is accomplished in all the four arts. True, we have many musicians, good chess-players, calligraphers and artists, but it would be difficult to find someone who excels in all the four arts.

In the music that musicians play and study today there is ample evidence of cross-cultural influences. There are many instances when Chinese Orchestra instruments are used to play a variety of Western and other Asian indigenous music. The art of chess is supported by many races today. We often see a cross-cultural participation whenever an international chess or Japanese weiqi competition is held. The styles found in the art pieces of artists today also exhibit a variety of cultural influences. One may for example find western form of presentation in traditional Chinese ink paints.

Perhaps the only exception among the venerated four cultural arts is Chinese Calligraphy. Although the art and styles have gone through centuries of development, it has remained quintessentially Chinese. It bears no evidence of influence from any other culture. It is also unique, for I know of no other form of writing that uses a brush for pen, other than some East Asian cultures which have borrowed from Chinese culture. Indeed a piece of Chinese calligraphy is like a painting. A well written calligraphy vividly represents the message that the words convey. I was presented a farewell present in the form of a framed piece of calligraphy with four words: Ba jiu lin feng which means "Let us drink to the wind!" The four words were written in a irregularly playful way; the strokes were a little wavy, as though pulsating with the exciting joy of friends drinking together, perhaps even a little tipsy from the wine. There is a saying that "A picture is worth a thousand words". But in Chinese Calligraphy, "A word can paint a thousand pictures".

With the unique Chinese brush pen, the calligrapher can paint wonders. But calligraphy with a brush pen must now remain an art form, just as painting with a brush. We have to bow to the progress of modern society and technology. The fountain pen and the ball point pen have taken over as our normal writing instruments. Even the pen may one day be completely replaced by the keyboard and the keyboard overtaken by voice recognition technology. We now hand write a lot less than we used to.

We have already seen the deterioration in the standard of handwriting among our students – perhaps even among some of our younger teachers. This is especially glaring in the Chinese handwriting. Even senior students often have very poor and immature handwriting. It is a very sad loss, because not being able to write properly is like losing a part of our individual personality. I would like to make the plea that there are at least 3 words all students should learn and practice how to write properly, if nothing else. These 3 words are your own name and surname. These 3 words are your personal identity and should portray your personality and your being. Express yourself and your pride through these 3 words.

For those who can see much more beauty in the written word, beyond your own name and surname, I encourage you to be accomplished in calligraphy, one of the four cultural accomplishments venerated by the ancient Chinese literati. For those less gifted and who do not have this talent, I would commend you to enjoy the calligraphy works of others.

As part of its objective to promote Chinese Calligraphy among the students, the Tampines Junior College Chinese Calligraphy Society is again hosting another National Schools Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition this year. It is encouraging to see such good response to the Exhibition. It is never easy to organise a national Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition, but Tampines Junior College has successfully hosted six such exhibitions consecutively. This is both encouraging and commendable. I wish the 6^th National Schools Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition every success.

Thank you.