(Seria, 4th) Acting President of the Brunei Chinese Cultural Calligraphy and Painting Association, Yu Qing, shares his calligraphy works with readers, written in semi-cursive and cursive scripts.
The first piece is a calligraphy work written in semi-cursive script: "The crane lives a thousand years, the pine remains evergreen for all ages"—a classic auspicious couplet for birthdays, symbolizing longevity, good health, and perpetual youth. Its meaning implies living as long as a crane and staying evergreen like the pine. It is often used to congratulate elders on their birthdays or family members for longevity. The combination of pine and crane represents good fortune and the wish for a long life.
The second calligraphy work, written in cursive script, features the phrase “A belly full of poetry and books brings a natural elegance”, which originates from Su Shi's (from the Song Dynasty) poem “He Dongchuan Farewell”. It means that as long as one is well-read and knowledgeable, their temperament will naturally exude elegance, without the need for external adornments.
This verse emphasizes that inner cultivation is decisive to a person's temperament, and it is often used to describe the confidence, gentleness, and noble demeanor characteristic of scholars.
The second calligraphy work, written in cursive script, also features “When the sea reaches its end, the sky becomes the shore; when the mountain is climbed to its peak, I become the summit”, a couplet created by the national hero of the Qing Dynasty, Lin Zexu, in his youth, expressing his grand ambition and broad-mindedness.
The first line suggests the ocean is vast, with the sky as its shore, serving as a metaphor for the boundless sea of learning that requires diligence. The second line means that upon reaching the mountain’s peak, one becomes the summit, symbolizing the courage and confidence needed to overcome difficulties—a sign of an optimistic attitude toward life.
The first piece is a calligraphy work written in semi-cursive script: "The crane lives a thousand years, the pine remains evergreen for all ages"—a classic auspicious couplet for birthdays, symbolizing longevity, good health, and perpetual youth. Its meaning implies living as long as a crane and staying evergreen like the pine. It is often used to congratulate elders on their birthdays or family members for longevity. The combination of pine and crane represents good fortune and the wish for a long life.
The second calligraphy work, written in cursive script, features the phrase “A belly full of poetry and books brings a natural elegance”, which originates from Su Shi's (from the Song Dynasty) poem “He Dongchuan Farewell”. It means that as long as one is well-read and knowledgeable, their temperament will naturally exude elegance, without the need for external adornments.
This verse emphasizes that inner cultivation is decisive to a person's temperament, and it is often used to describe the confidence, gentleness, and noble demeanor characteristic of scholars.
The second calligraphy work, written in cursive script, also features “When the sea reaches its end, the sky becomes the shore; when the mountain is climbed to its peak, I become the summit”, a couplet created by the national hero of the Qing Dynasty, Lin Zexu, in his youth, expressing his grand ambition and broad-mindedness.
The first line suggests the ocean is vast, with the sky as its shore, serving as a metaphor for the boundless sea of learning that requires diligence. The second line means that upon reaching the mountain’s peak, one becomes the summit, symbolizing the courage and confidence needed to overcome difficulties—a sign of an optimistic attitude toward life.