Spring Festival marks the first day of Chinese calendar, which is why it is also known as Chinese New Year. It is the most important traditional festival in China. The tradition dates back to the Shang Dynasty, when people held sacrificial ceremonies at the end of the year. In this activity celebrating the approaching Spring Festival holiday, Zhao Wengang will teach kids about the history of the character Nian, the Chinese word for year. Students will learn to write nian and he (harmony) in Oracle Bone script. They will also learn to write fu (happiness) in calligraphy.

UCCA Touching China Series: Oracle Bones

Oracle bones are the earliest known record of systematized Chinese characters. By analyzing these inscriptions, experts can understand ancient Chinese society, its modes of thought, and the socio-cultural situation of the time. These oracle bones can be great fun for kids as well! With some imagination, simple characters known to all young students transform into beautiful landscapes and images.

Zhao Wengeng is a Sinology teacher. He began studying calligraphy at age five, and today he is a master of clerical script and ancient characters. He studied oracle bone scripts and philology under Huang Bo, compiler of the Oracle Bone Script Dictionary. To Zhao, studying ancient scripts is not just about learning the characters themselves. He hopes that through these ancient texts, children can learn about the wisdom of their ancestors and use this knowledge in their creative lives.