【Upcoming Exhibition ✨ 展覽預告】
Writing is one of humanity’s greatest inventions, regarded by scholars as a criterion for any civilisation. In China, writing has evolved from the incised marks on Neolithic artefacts, through the oracle bone and bronze inscriptions of the Shang and Zhou dynasties and the divergent scripts of the Warring States period, to the post-Wei-Jin era, when calligraphy developed into an independent art form combining practicality with aesthetic refinement—each transformation closely intertwined with the evolution of society.

This exhibition focuses on the collections of the University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG), The University of Hong Kong, together with significant holdings from HKU’s Fung Ping Shan Library and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Art Museum. It offers a comprehensive presentation of the origins and evolution of ancient Chinese writing, along with its technological carriers and social functions across various historical periods. The exhibition explores the social contexts in which writing emerged, highlighting its roles in politics, culture, and the arts, and providing valuable material evidence for related scholarly research.

The exhibition is divided into three sections: “The Origins and Unification of Writing”, “The Evolution and Media of Writing”, and “The Dissemination and Art of Writing”. The first section reveals writing’s basic function as a tool for recording and communication in early societies, as well as the symbolic significance it gradually acquired in political and religious spheres. The second section focuses on how writing media and technological innovations facilitated the standardised evolution of scripts from seal and clerical to regular, running, and cursive styles, demonstrating the influence of material technology on writing forms. The final section examines the application of writing in society, art, and daily life, showing how writing became a profound force in shaping Chinese ways of thinking and aesthetic sensibilities. ...

Calligraphy is the soul of Chinese characters and the lifeblood of Chinese
civilization. From the archaic simplicity of oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, to the uniformity of Qin dynasty seal script and the vitality of Han dynasty clerical script; from the disciplined structure of Wei and Jin regular script, to the fluidity of running script and the untamed energy of cursive script—the birth of each script form reflects the spirit of its age.

The opening of the exhibition was held at UMAG on October 15. Officiating guests included Mr Joseph Lau Chairman of Yi Geng Shu Xue She, Ms Angelina Cheung Daughter of Artist, Dr Florian Knothe Director of UMAG, and Ms Kitty Lam Curatorial Assistant of UMAG. Calligraphy has never been merely an art of lines. It embodies a vast spectrum of themes: the temperament of the calligrapher, the vibrant energy of living beings, prayers for blessings, the grandeur of mountains and rivers, the profundity of philosophical thought, the faithful transmission of classical verse, and the ideals of statecraft and official loyalty. For centuries, countless individuals have devoted their lives to its study and practice. What makes calligraphy so compelling is that it is not merely an aesthetic pursuit, but a philosophy—and ultimately, a discipline of life itself. Between lifting the brush and setting it down, every nuance—the weight of the wrist, the speed of the brush tip, the density of the ink—is a true reflection of the inner state of mind. The University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong is pleased to present the special exhibition Ink Rhymes Through a Millennium: Calligraphy by Cheung Cheuk Wai from 16 October 2026 through 10 January 2027. The display features works by the late Hong Kong calligrapher Cheung Cheuk Wai, covering a wide range of scripts and themes, showcasing the millennia-long history of Chinese

characters. It offers a step into the world of brush and ink, to appreciate—between each stroke and each dot—not only Mr. Cheung’s lifelong devotion to calligraphy, but also the beauty of Chinese characters and the profound depth of Chinese culture. ...