Fist calligrapher impresses audience at overseas culture show

Hu Wenfu, who lives in Huijin Yuan, Xijiao Road, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing, can write beautiful calligraphy without using a writing brush. Thanks to this unique technique, a few days ago Hu was invited to Singapore for a cultural exchange event.

Hu Wenfu writes calligraphy using his fist instead of a brush.

The performances took place on February 28 at the China-Singapore Cultural Exchange in Vivo City, Singapore. When Hu got on stage and had only a pot of ink on the desk, the audience all wondered whether he had forgotten to bring his writing brush. Hu just rolled up his sleeves, dipped his right fist in the ink, and wrote 2 Chinese characters "Fen Dou" (meaning striving hard for certain aims) with his fist instead of a brush. Then, he dipped his fingers in the ink and wrote the famous lines of Qu Yuan, the earliest great patriotic poet in the Chinese history, "though far, far is my way ahead and long, long is the journey, I will explore it despite ups and downs." The writing was natural and smooth, just like floating clouds and flowing water.

When Hu finished his performance, the audience burst into thunderous applause. "It's a miracle that you can write such beautiful calligraphy with only your fingers, palm, and fist. You have brought great honor to Chinese culture, and I have to say it is really admirable and impressive," Chen Shenggui, member of the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore (CCSS), said, praising Hu Wenfu.

Hu was born in Longxing Town, Yubei District, Chongqing, and started to learn calligraphy at a private school at 6 years old. His family was so poor that he could not afford writing brushes and inks, so he would dip his fingers in the water and practice writing on stones, "My experiences in childhood had laid a solid foundation for my future achievements in calligraphy." When Hu was 47 years old, as he worked as a publicist, he was sent to take a calligraphy course paid by the employer. Learning there that the ancients used to write calligraphy with their fingers, Hu got so excited that he begun to practice writing calligraphy with fingers instead of writing brushes all the time. Shortly afterwards, he invented the technique of writing calligraphy with his palm and fist.

In the calligraphy course, his classmates jokingly called Hu the "Inky Man from Chongqing," because every time he practiced writing with fingers, ink would spill some on his clothes, and he would be covered with ink dots from head to foot. Hu became quite well known for the unique calligraphy technique when he was 55 years old, and was often invited to perform in many places, which left him no choice but to retire. After retirement, he has much more time to practice and improve his unique calligraphy technique. Furthermore, he has been invited to perform his unique calligraphy for foreign delegations many times, and has won gold and silver medals in many major international competitions.

The Chinese Embassy in Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and Lianhe Zaobao jointly invited Hu to attend the China-Singapore Cultural Exchange Activity in January 2010. Reporters learned that Hu Wenfu is now the best calligrapher in Chongqing at writing calligraphy with his fingers, palm, and fist. Inspired by his example, many people have begun to learn this special technique for writing traditional Chinese calligraphy.