The Diffusion And Development Of Chinese Calligraphy In Malaysia Since Last Century.

The development of Chinese calligraphy in Malaysia is closely related to the development of Chinese education. The rising and flourishing of Chinese education and a great number of Chinese literati who immigrated to Malaysia were conduced to the diffusion of Chinese calligraphy. Moreover, its development is related to the development of fine art education. There are two factors that have helped promulgate Chinese calligraphy. Firstly, the establishment of fine art institutes. Secondly, the literate immigrants, who were gifted in Chinese calligraphy, were engaged in education. Their artistic talent carried great weight in influencing Chinese school students. Chinese calligraphy could carry through until today due to the local Chinese's efforts to preserve their traditional culture in Malaysia. In addition, Chinese calligraphy has become part of the Chinese paper in the national junior high school examination.On the other hand, Chinese calligraphy activities are regarded as an impetus to the development of Chinese calligraphy in Malaysia. They could run smoothly because leaders of the Chinese associations were willing to sponsor them. Nowadays, the number of people learning Chinese calligraphy is more than that of those learning painting. The former is increasing year after year.The aesthetics of the Chinese people in calligraphy during the past century has been from pragmatistic to artistic, from cultural and moralistic to the combination of art, culture and morality, from being obstinate about tradition to assimilation of Western aesthetics. As most of the Chinese Malaysians appreciated inscriptions as a way of learning calligraphy, the local calligraphers' styles were rugged, and imposing. Apart from being a hobby, local Chinese calligraphy has been pragmatic as it has been applied in signboards and epigraphs.