CRI听力: Chinese Handwriting

It is a global phenomenon that people are now getting more familiar with keyboards than pens and paper, but the extent of the situation is even more extreme than people often think. When we went around the Easy FM office with a little Chinese handwriting test, surprisingly, only a few people could write down the correct character without the help of a computer.

Our reporter Zhang Wan takes a closer look at the phenomenon.



Calligraphy, or the method of writing Chinese characters, is a large and unique part of Chinese culture, and for centuries has been the standard for identifying a cultured man. However, in recent years, computers and keyboards have gradually replaced pen and paper in office work. As the average white-collar worker's typing speed progresses, people's ability to handwrite Chinese characters is decreasing. (www.hXen.com)

"With more frequent usage of computers, the imprint of Chinese characters will gradually fade from people's brains; our brain reacts and imprints Chinese characters much better during the action of writing than in typing."

Chen Qinghong is a primary school calligraphy teacher. While explaining the reason for decreasing handwriting ability, she explains the situation in her school.

"As far as children are concerned, I feel students' handwriting is getting worse year after year. The main reason, I think, has to be credited to the temptations out there. "

Handwriting is a craft that requires time to perfect, and Chen Qinghong says nowadays, things like television and video games too often distract children from studying. Not only has that, but calligraphy skills used to earn students extra credit on the entrance exams, been abolished.

"Not trying to be rude, but some of the teachers can't be role models in terms of handwriting. Children have a very strong sense of copying, and some of the teachers' handwriting is definitely not the ideal starting point for them. Handwriting should be reinforced in teacher training schools."

It seems that Chinese handwriting are losing its influences in everyday and educational terms, but there still are organizations trying to increase the potential influence of Chinese characters in contemporary popular culture, such as the Beijing Committee of Chinese Linguistics.

"To publicize normative usage of the Chinese language is our duty. That includes both in spoken form and in written form."

A spokesperson from the committee says they just held national wide calligraphy competition amount students in different age groups from 7 to 17. Across China, over a million students participated in the competition this year alone. The spokesperson says they are trying to influence the students into feeling proud of the Chinese language, and be proud to use them correctly.

Although there are people working hard to keep the legacy of Chinese calligraphy, the general public is still clumsier than ever with just a pen and a piece of paper. Has writing as a skill simply passed its time? An old Chinese saying says that "one's handwriting is a reflection of one's character." Twenty years ago, beautiful handwriting would be helpful for one to find a good job. We asked several human resources managers if that actually is a factor today.

"I wouldn't look to people's handwriting to judge them. Not by aesthetically how good it looks anyway - maybe I'd try to figure out if they are earnest from the handwriting."

"I'd never hire or fire someone based on handwriting; most business is done with computers now."

It seems handwriting as a measure of a man has lost its charm, but people like Chen Qinghong are voicing the necessity to save this cultural legacy, and others are trying to bring back the influence of calligraphy on our culture.

This year, governmental organizations have successfully declared Chinese calligraphy an official world cultural heritage, but it will take the rest of us to keep the heritage alive.

From China Drive, I'm Zhang Wan.