If in the past, in Hanoi we had scholars sitting to write holy words, then after a while the beautiful image, full of spiritual culture, disappeared and is now restored, then the people sitting to write parallel sentences in Cho Lon has never been lost as a beautiful tradition of Tet. Along Thap Muoi, Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Nguyen Trai streets, next to the calendar stalls are small tables hung with red parallel sentences. The people writing lucky words do not wear the tunic or turban, they just wear normal clothes like every day, set up a small table surrounded by hung with red papers with pre-written words.
The calligraphers dressed in their usual clothes, set up a small table surrounded by red papers with pre-written words hanging all around.
Cho Lon is an area where a large number of Chinese people live. These Chinese families came to the South to settle down, they have lived deeply and preserved their own customs and traditions for many generations. Every time Tet comes, many families choose to buy red parallel sentences, calligraphy, and characters to hang in their homes to pray for peace and fortune.
This Tet, the calligraphers still sit there, next to the red scrolls, they write each stroke freely with all their heart to give, to present, to remind of the traditional beauty of their ancestors - the custom of asking for calligraphy in spring. The buyer has the right to choose the size of the paper, then the scroll writer will use a Chinese brush dipped in black or gold ink to write Chinese characters with content such as "Ngu Phuoc Lam Mon", "Phuoc Loc Tho"... to stick in front of the house door or just a word "Phuc" on a piece of red paper to stick on watermelons for luck. The strokes: Tam, Nhan, Binh An, Cat Tuong, Tin, Hieu... are respectfully written by the calligraphers on the red scrolls as a decorative painting, adding color and flavor to Tet.
Calligraphers with over 60 years of dedication to writing
Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street is the street with the most calligraphers. At house number 213, the Chinese calligraphy stall of calligrapher Truong Kien Quoc is nestled among countless stalls selling Tet items. His regular customers often call him Mr. Sang. Originally from Guangdong, Mr. Sang is kind and cheerful. Few people know that Mr. Sang started his career as a calligrapher when he was only 13 years old. As a child, he tutored and wrote for sale to save money for school. After overcoming hardships and difficulties, the young man of the past has become a calligrapher with expert skills. For more than 60 years, every Tet, he has come here to write for everyone.
Calligraphy is a hard job, at the age of 78, instead of staying home to celebrate the New Year, every year Mr. Sang is busy with a pile of papers and words until the night of the 30th of Tet and comes home when the clock has reached 2am on the 1st. Having lived with the profession for more than a lifetime, he has never stopped creating words. For Mr. Sang, the sacred symbol that always makes him proud when mentioned is the giant pen called Can Thien But. He believes that Can Thien But represents the nobility of the writer, if you see a pen somewhere, he is there writing.
Calligrapher Truong Kien Quoc and the Can Thien But - representing the nobility of the writer
Another parallel sentence stall located on Tran Quy Street (District 11) is the calligraphy shop of Mr. Huynh Tri Cau, 65 years old, currently a calligraphy teacher for many years in District 11. Every December, he sets up tables and chairs, grinds yellow ink and red paper to write meaningful Tet wishes and parallel sentences for everyone.
Mr. Cau had a talent for beautiful writing since he was a child. When he was in school, he always won first or second place in handwriting competitions. More than 50 years ago, when he was still a student, he practiced writing like his father. His handwriting became more and more neat, smooth, and had its own mark, so the Chinese people in Thiec market loved it more and more. Since then, more than half a century has passed, nearly 60 years of youth, Mr. Cau's calligraphy shop has become a familiar address for Saigon people every Tet holiday.
For more than half a century, Mr. Cau's calligraphy shop has become a familiar address for Saigon people every Tet holiday.
Family of 6 decades writing Tet couplets, busy "giving calligraphy" on the last day of the year
In the days leading up to Lunar New Year, Ms. Luong Vien Du's family (living in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City) is busy writing hundreds of Tet parallel sentences, wishing good luck to people in preparation for the new year. For Ms. Vien Du's family, this is a part-time job, only working for one month a year, on average, the family writes up to 100 parallel sentences of all kinds each day. Ms. Luong Vien Du said: "Nowadays, there are not many people writing parallel sentences in Cho Lon area. My family is a rare one that has passed down the profession for three generations."
Ms. Luong Dien Du's family has been involved in the profession of writing parallel sentences for more than 6 decades.
“It is not simply a matter of writing the words correctly, in each stroke of the pen I also send my wish that the recipient will always be happy and successful in the new year,” Ms. Luong Vien Du added.
Mr. Luong Trieu Minh (33 years old, sister Du's younger brother) and a young family member have been working in the profession since they were 15 years old. When he was a child, he was very interested in seeing his father writing, the flowing and curving strokes of the pen made him gradually learn to write. After nearly 20 years of writing, Mr. Minh sees the profession as both a destiny and a responsibility to try to preserve the beauty of ancient culture. Mr. Minh shared: "Chinese characters are inherently difficult, when writing parallel sentences, it requires sharp and meticulous expression, so those who do the job must be truly persistent and patient."
Mr. Luong Trieu Minh (33 years old, Ms. Du's younger brother) and a young family member have been in the profession since they were 15 years old.
From tradition to charity writing event for more than a decade
Every year on the 22nd and 23rd of the 12th lunar month, Chinese calligraphers in Cho Lon meet to write calligraphy for charity. This year, at the Hai An Assembly Hall, the calligraphers made parallel sentences with the content of celebrating the new year with many good things. This is also the only occasion in the year that calligraphy lovers can meet all the famous calligraphers in the current De Ngan calligraphy village (Cho Lon) such as Truong Lo, Lam Han Thanh, Huynh Tung Ba... This is also the 14th year the event has taken place.
The charity parallel sentence writing event by calligraphers in Cho Lon has been persistently held for 14 years.
Along one wall of the guildhall, parallel sentences written by famous calligraphers are hung for the public to enjoy. Anyone interested can take one home. Compensation is encouraged to be donated to the organizing committee for charity.
Mr. Tran Quoc An (living in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) and his family have kept the tradition of asking for calligraphy for more than 20 years, sharing with Travellive: “The red couplets are both lively and preserve the cultural features over the years, without being lost. Like every year, I always ask for the words “Hiep gia binh an” which means nothing but praying for peace.”
Mr. Tran Quoc An, living in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, still keeps the tradition of asking for alms at the beginning of the year.
Nowadays, although there are beautiful printed couplets and parallel sentences, many people still prefer handwritten letters. Because handwritten letters, although not as sharp and glossy as printed letters, are soulful and lively.
