When reminiscing about scholars of the past, none can forget the image of brush pens and ink wells – tools not just for recording knowledge, but symbols of perseverance, willpower, and respect for beauty in every character. This is the spirit preserved and passed down by previous generations. Today, amid modern life and the digital era, fountain pens – the spiritual successors – continue the mission of connecting people with knowledge, culture, and themselves. While brush pens marked the imperial examinations, fountain pens now preserve personal reflections, memories, and emotions that no keyboard or screen could ever replace.
Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam Cultural and Scientific Activities Center delivering the opening speech
In his opening remarks, Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam Cultural and Scientific Activities Center, emphasized: “The ‘Journey Through Handwritings’ event is not just an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of handwriting culture, but also a reminder of the value of writing in modern life. A meticulously crafted character reflects one’s soul, personality, and respect for knowledge. This is a timeless value – from ancient scholars with brush pens to today’s generation with fountain pens. The event also conveys a profound message: We must continuously preserve and promote this beautiful tradition, especially as handwriting becomes increasingly forgotten in the convenience of technology. Let each character, whether written with a brush pen or fountain pen, become a bridge between past and future, between knowledge and spirit, and between people.”
Participants performed the ceremonial first writing and toured the fountain pen collection exhibition.
Ngo Viet Dung, Director of Sao Khue Fountain Pen Company, one of the event’s organizers, noted: “After a long hiatus, the ‘Journey Through Handwritings’ returns for its third iteration, connecting the ancient scholarly culture and calligraphy with traditional ink and brush to modern calligraphy using fountain pens. This activity aims to continue preserving historical values. Visitors will admire unique pens from world-renowned collectors, from prestigious international brands to the modest Hong Ha pen collection – Vietnam’s first pen manufacturer. The event seeks to celebrate handwriting’s art, especially for young, digital-native generations, helping them appreciate and preserve handwriting’s values.”
The exhibition space of fountain pen collections attracts many visitors.
The event features themed exhibition spaces: Calligraphy Exhibition Space, Sketch Drawing Space, and a Collection Exhibition of Renowned Fountain Pen Brands.
Calligraphy exhibition space and Fountain pen sketch space
Visitors can immerse themselves in the refined world of fountain pens through various interactive workshops: Canh Dieu Calligraphy Workshop: Exploring attractive Copperplate writing styles; Professional Business Cursive Workshop; Son Mai Concopens Workshop: Experiencing lacquer art on fountain pens; Han Nom Calligraphy Workshop: Writing traditional characters with deep cultural meaning.
Han Nom Calligraphy Workshop
Lacquer Workshop to experience the art of lacquer painting on fountain pens
Additionally, an afternoon panel discussion on Fountain Pens and Writing Culture will feature cultural researchers, writers, and brand representatives sharing insights about fountain pen history and handwriting’s value in the digital age.
Thuy Nga