On the occasion of the arrival of the traditional Chinese Spring Festival, all divisions and offices of Changchun Foreign Affairs Office (CCFAO) are busy sending out antithetical couplets and red Chinese calligraphy characters Fu (Chinese Pinyin, literally, good luck) as Spring Festival greetings and wishes to Changchun’s international sister cities, embassies and consulates of other countries in China, international institutions and friendly organizations... 

Sending Spring Festival couplets is originated from the following creative idea.

In 2015, CCFAO put forward a series of ideas and designs to strengthen cultural exchanges with foreign countries, including the idea of sending Spring Festival couplets. Director Qi Guohua said: “Chinese culture has a long history, broad and profound. The Spring Festival is the grandest traditional festival for Chinese people. The couplets and calligraphy character Fu are part of the customs, meaning to bid farewell to the old and usher in the new, drive off evils and disasters and wish for blessings and a year of harvest. The couplets are written in calligraphy. Calligraphy is the quintessence of Chinese culture, which is one of the most typical symbols of Chinese culture. In addition, the couplets express best wishes with antithetical words, thereby becoming a very good form for traditional Chinese culture to go abroad. CCFAO has platforms, channels and also the responsibility of doing so.”  

Once put forward, such idea was positively responded and supported by the Calligraphers’ Association of Changchun City. Every year, Sun Dewei, Chen Fenghua, Kang Jian, Liu Shirong and He Lianjiu and other calligraphers of Changchun City will write tens of hundreds of couplets to express Spring Festival wishes for prosperity, longevity, peacefulness and auspiciousness. Sun Dewei, Vice President of Changchun Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Calligraphers’ Association of Changchun City, was quoted as saying “As calligraphers, we have the responsibility and obligation to inherit and spread our traditional culture and calligraphy art. We are willing to make a contribution to the expansion of opening up and the enhancement of cultural exchanges of Changchun City with other countries!”  

Time flies. It has been five years since the idea was made a reality. After receiving such couplets, the international sister cities, institutions and friends are elated-some post them up, some take photos and share with friends, and others collect them as rarities.  

Culture is a bridge and link. Only by strengthening communications can cultural integration and diversity be promoted and the hearts of people be connected together. Under the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and in the process of accelerating the construction of a modern metropolitan area in Changchun City, it is more necessary to play the role of culture as a bridge and link so as to further expand the opening up of Changchun City to the outside world and strengthen the communications, exchanges and integration of Changchun City with the world.