Celebrating characters

Dongba shaman He Guoyao demonstrates writing Dongba manuscripts at the Our Characteristics: Inheritance of Words in Intangible Cultural Heritage exhibition in Beijing. [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]

China's traditional writing system can be better understood by visiting an ongoing exhibition at the National Museum of Classic Books. 

China's traditional writing system has always generated interest not just among scholars from around the world but also the general public back home and expats in the country.

For those who are keen to have a glimpse of Chinese characters and their evolution, a newly opened exhibition at Beijing's National Museum of Classic Books may just be the right avenue.

Titled Our Characteristics: Inheritance of Words in Intangible Cultural Heritage, the exhibition will be held through Feb 1. The organizing museum is an affiliate of the National Library of China.

More than 300 pieces of written works, including ancient manuscripts, historical records of the development of Chinese writing and calligraphy by some 24 inheritors of cultural heritage nationwide are among the exhibits.

Calligraphers from the country's different ethnic groups have sought to project the beauty of their scripts.

"I learned manuscripts as a kid, but today, there are very few young people who are able to write them," says He Guoyao, 42, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor. The Dongba shaman priest from the Naxi ethnic group that comes from Yunnan province, presents his calligraphy at the exhibition by drawing the characters.

Ancient Dongba manuscripts are important references to perform traditional Naxi rituals, he says, adding that the characters are "crucial roots to prolong" their history.

Visitors to the exhibition can also witness other nation-level inheritors of intangible heritage showcasing skills such as making traditional Chinese writing tools, including brushes, rice paper and ink.

"This exhibition will give an overall view of Chinese characters' lineage since the time of their origin until this day and age," says Wang Fuzhou, the deputy director of the intangible cultural heritage department under the Ministry of Culture.

The exhibition, which is being jointly organized by the National Museum of Classic Books and his ministry, will also tour the country's provincial public libraries in the coming months.

"It (display) focuses on the application of the traditional writing system in modern Chinese society, which is in the hands of the intangible cultural inheritors," Wang says. "It's important for visitors to participate in writing to know the techniques better."

At least six public lectures that focus on the history of Chinese characters are also being held at the museum alongside the exhibition.

According to Li Honglin, the deputy director of National Library of China, the library began a project last year to categorize intangible cultural heritage that's related to Chinese characters via video recordings, interviews and the production of documentaries. About 30 intangible cultural heritage items have so far been included in the project.

The project is intended to promote public awareness of the many challenges that such heritage faces in modern times in China, according to Li.

"A database will be established on our library's website to better inform the public," he says.

Li says that the library also plans to cooperate with the Beijing subway network to enable passengers to view relevant documentaries and texts by scanning two-dimensional codes in carriages and subway stations.

IF YOU GO

Open hours: 9 am to 4:45 pm (closed on Mondays). Entry is free. National Museum of Classic Books, 33 Zhongguancun Nan Dajie (Avenue), Haidian district, Beijing.

Tel: 010-8854-5936.

For more information visit exhibition website at www.nlc.gov.cn/cmptest/wmdwz/(in Chinese only).