The Calligraphy Studies programme traces its origins to 1963, when Pan Tianshou and Lu Weizhao founded the first-ever higher education program in calligraphy in New China. Now recognized as a National First-Class Undergraduate Program, it integrates artistic education with cultural transmission, emphasizing the close bond between the visual language of Chinese calligraphy and its profound cultural depth. while elevating students' artistic practice, cultural literacy and refined aesthetic character. Rooted in tradition and open to contemporary innovation, the programme is structured around four core pillars: brush-and-ink practice, textual research, interdisciplinary aesthetic education, and digital calligraphy studies. It aims to cultivate versatile talents in traditional Chinese culture—graduates with solid calligraphic mastery, systematic knowledge of history and literature, and a broad global outlook, excelling in calligraphic creation, academic research, aesthetic education, and digital and creative industries.
2. Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Structure
The program features a progressive, three-stage curriculum covering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral studies.
At the undergraduate level, the focus is on building strong foundations, refining technique and understanding classical methods. Students gain a firm command of traditional brush-and-ink techniques through rigorous training in strokes, structure and composition, while also engaging in experimental creation and interdisciplinary practice to spark creative thinking.
At the master’s level, the focus turns to historical inquiry and the integration of thought with practice. Grounded in calligraphic tradition and the medium of brush and ink, it balances academic rigor with experimental exploration—seeking a synergy between craft and aesthetics, tradition and the contemporary.
At the doctoral level, the emphasis shifts to theoretical inquiry, intellectual depth, and the advancement of the field. Grounded in rigorous research, doctoral study extends beyond technical mastery to place calligraphy and seal carving within a richer humanistic and philosophical framework.
These three stages are distinct yet form a coherent whole. Through exhibition-based pedagogy and interdisciplinary workshops, the curriculum weaves together theoretical inquiry, brush-and-ink practice, digital exploration, and public aesthetic education—forging a path where the preservation of heritage and contemporary innovation are not opposed but mutually reinforcing.
