World Youth and Teenage Calligraphy Competition -Season 3
World Youth and Teenage Calligraphy Competition -Season 3 consists of three core modules: Basic Calligraphy Creation Skills, which covers stroke standardization and composition layout, proficiency in using calligraphy tools (brush pens, rice paper, ink), basic writing techniques (such as the horizontal straightness and vertical uprightness in regular script, the smooth connected strokes in running script, and the "silkworm head and swallow tail" in official script), as well as cognition of calligraphy styles (such as the interpretation of the vigorous and dignified style of Yan-style regular script, the presentation of the elegant and agile style of Wang Xizhi's running script, and the expression of the simple and elegant style of Cao Quan Stele's official script); Calligraphy Culture and Creation Principles, including the historical origins of calligraphy font forms (such as pre-Qin seal script, Tang Dynasty regular script, Song Dynasty running script, Yuan Dynasty official script works), calligraphy symbols in different cultures (such as the ink artistic conception in traditional Chinese calligraphy, the minimalist aesthetics in Japanese shodo, and the Chinese character charm in Korean calligraphy), and the impact of contemporary trends on the evolution of calligraphy styles; Practical Application of Calligraphy, including the thematic interpretation of calligraphy works, improvisational creation (such as completing quick calligraphy creations based on on-site given themes), and conveying concepts through calligraphy in real-life scenarios (such as conveying confidence in traditional culture through public welfare calligraphy works or showcasing the integration characteristics of local culture and calligraphy art). The competition sets up a variety of calligraphy competition categories and customizes difficulty levels according to age and experience. The Children's Group focuses on basic skills (such as completing the writing of simple Chinese characters and mastering basic strokes and structures), while the Youth Group emphasizes creative expression (such as developing a unique calligraphy style), work interpretation (such as exploring the in-depth artistic conception of calligraphy works through writing details), and the ability to solve problems through calligraphy creation (such as selecting appropriate font forms and creative methods to convey specific emotions or the connotation of calligraphy works).
Registration Fee: Free
Competition Categories:
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Kindergarten Group
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Lower Primary Group
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Higher Primary Group
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Junior Secondary Group
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Senior Secondary Group
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Publice Group
Important dates:
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Application Deadline: December 25, 2025
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Result Announcement Date: January 2, 2026
Award Categories
Individual Awards:
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Special Gold Award (Top 12% of participants in the group)
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Gold Award (Top 12%-25% of participants in the group)
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Silver Award (Top 26%-45% of participants in the group)
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Bronze Award (Top 46%-60% of participants in the group)
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Excellence Award (Top 61%-100% of participants in the group)
Group Awards:
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Outstanding Group Award
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Outstanding Mentor Award
Award winners can request customized awards featuring the participant's name in Chinese or English.
Award Options:
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Electronic Certificate: HKD 200
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate: HKD 290
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal: HKD 325
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal + Trophy: HKD 365
The deadline for award applications is two weeks after the announcement of the results.
All awards will be mailed within eight weeks after the application deadline.
Awards and certificates will be sent via SF Express, cash on delivery.
Once the awards are signed for, no replacements will be issued in case of damage or loss.
The organizers are not responsible for failed deliveries due to incorrect information or communication difficulties.
Competition Guidelines:
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Competition Categories
Participants can self-select their competition tier based on age and skill level (e.g., Children’s Group: 6–12 years; Youth Group: 13–18 years).
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Registration & Timing
Registration Deadline: Complete registration and submit your artwork (via digital upload) before [specific deadline, e.g., "11:59 PM UTC on October 31, 2025"].
Confirmation: A registration confirmation email will be sent to your provided address.
Submission Window: You can enter the competition platform and upload your calligraphy works at any time before the deadline.
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Submission Format & Requirements
Platform: Upload high-definition digital image files of calligraphy works via the official competition platform (a link will be provided after registration).
Entry Requirements:
Submit original physical calligraphy or digital calligraphy works (including categories such as regular script, running script, official script, seal script). Only basic editing operations are allowed, such as brightness calibration and image cropping; excessive post-production retouching (e.g., modifying stroke shapes, adjusting ink density levels) is prohibited to ensure the authenticity of the work.
Resolution Specifications: For physical calligraphy works, scanning/photography must ensure a resolution of no less than 300 DPI; digital calligraphy works must be submitted in standard formats (e.g., JPG, PNG, PDF) to ensure clear presentation of work details (such as the texture of stroke starts and ends, ink smudging layers, and the integrity of composition layout).
Presentation Method: Works must conform to the theme requirements of calligraphy creation (e.g., writing of classical poems shall fully present the text content; creation of modern slogans shall highlight the core idea; physical works shall be photographed with a flat view to avoid creases or shadow obstruction; digital works shall maintain the original aspect ratio without stretching or distortion; if the work contains seals, the seal script details shall be clearly presented to avoid interference from cluttered backgrounds).
Equipment/Tools: Physical calligraphy works must be scanned with professional scanning equipment or photographed with a high-definition camera (equipped with a softbox to avoid glare) to ensure accurate color restoration and complete presentation of the work's edge information; digital calligraphy works must be created using professional drawing software (e.g., Procreate, Photoshop), and the original high-resolution files shall be submitted to ensure the smoothness of stroke lines and natural transition of ink colors.
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Jury Evaluation & Integrity Rules
Judging Panel: The jury consists of members of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, university professors specializing in calligraphy, and senior calligraphy education experts.
Evaluation Criteria:
Technical Ability (50%): Precision of writing techniques (e.g., stroke standardization, rationality of character structure), mastery of tools (e.g., use of brush hair, adjustment of ink density), execution of details, and mastery of theme-specific techniques (such as horizontal straightness and vertical uprightness in regular script, linked stroke connection in running script, "silkworm head and swallow tail" in official script, and symmetrical lines in seal script).
Artistic Expression (30%): Depth of theme interpretation for calligraphy works (e.g., transmission of classical text artistic conception, presentation of modern theme ideas), effectiveness of emotional expression, adaptability of creative concepts to styles, and the ability to convey cultural significance through writing (e.g., using ink color changes to show vitality, creating an atmosphere through composition layout, highlighting text connotation through font style).
Visual Effect (20%): Innovation in presentation form (e.g., new creation forms for traditional fonts), compatibility between content and form (e.g., matching degree of font style to text type), audience appeal, and application of spatial layout (such as rationality of character spacing and line spacing, balance of overall composition, matching of inscriptions and seals).
Integrity Policy:
Plagiarism of existing calligraphy works (including direct reproduction of classic steles, theft of others' original creation ideas) is prohibited. AI-generated calligraphy images shall not be used as the main creative material.
Submissions found plagiarized or fraudulent will be disqualified.
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Competition Rules
Submission Limit: One entry per participant.
Entry Specifications:
Children’s Group: Calligraphy works (e.g., writing on 30×40cm paper, simple Chinese character creation, basic stroke exercises), including classic children's calligraphy content (such as excerpts from Three-Character Classic, writing of commonly used Chinese characters), basic writing exercises (such as regular script basic stroke training, simple refined single-character writing), and simple original excerpts (e.g., self-composed short sentences with simple composition design).
Youth Group: Complex calligraphy works (e.g., large-scale creation on paper larger than 40×60cm, multi-font combination works, series-themed writing), including in-depth interpretation of classic calligraphy (such as copying excerpts from Duo Bao Pagoda Stele, running script creation in the style of Preface to the Orchid Pavilion), thematic creation (e.g., "Traditional Culture Inheritance", "Patriotic Feelings" series works), multi-form creation (such as combining calligraphy and painting, splicing different fonts), and conceptual works (e.g., original writing exploring cultural issues, innovative font design integrating modern aesthetics).
Tools & Materials: Only standard tools corresponding to the calligraphy category may be used (e.g., brush pens, rice paper, ink, inkstones, digital drawing tablets). Excessive use of pre-made templates (e.g., calligraphy tracing bases) or third-party assistance (e.g., others writing on behalf of the participant, using font generation software) is prohibited to avoid affecting the originality of the work.
Entry Requirements for the World Youth and Teenage Calligraphy Competition -Season 3 (Online Submission & Jury Evaluation)
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Basic Calligraphy Skills
Focus on technical foundations and creation structure:
Technical Skills: Ability to control stroke standardization, mastery of calligraphy tools (brush pens, rice paper, ink), precision in executing work details, and calligraphy theme-specific creation techniques (such as the horizontal straightness, vertical uprightness, and clear start/end of strokes in regular script, the smooth connection of linked strokes in running script, the "silkworm head and swallow tail" form in official script, and the symmetrical line depiction in seal script).
Theme Cognition: Familiarity with calligraphy competition categories (regular script creation, running script copying, official script creation, seal script writing) and classic works/styles (such as the vigorous regular script exhibited in Yan Zhenqing's Duo Bao Pagoda Stele, the elegant running script presented in Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, the simple official script shown in Cao Quan Stele, and the solemn seal script embodied in Li Si's Yishan Stele).
Calligraphy Literacy: Understanding of professional calligraphy knowledge (such as brushwork differences among different fonts, principles of composition layout), creation forms (such as refined single-character writing, whole-text creation, classic copying), and style recognition (such as matching creation techniques to font types: requirements for neat strokes in regular script, presentation of coherent vitality in running script, restoration of "bozhe" (wavy strokes) characteristics in official script).
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Artistic Expression & Cultural Context
Explore theme interpretation and historical depth:
Category Analysis: Origins and stylistic characteristics of calligraphy creation forms (such as the mature background of regular script in the Tang Dynasty, the literati attribute of running script in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the prosperous evolution of official script in the Han Dynasty, and the cultural traits of calligraphy art in different countries).
Work Interpretation: Convey calligraphy artistic conception and themes through creation elements (such as using thick ink and bold colors to show the solemnity of regular script, using dry-wet ink variations to express the agility of running script), while connecting to calligraphy cultural/historical backgrounds (such as restoring the rigorous rules of Tang Dynasty regular script, integrating modern aesthetics into traditional calligraphy creation, and reflecting the historical charm of classic steles in contemporary works).
Modern Adaptation: Integration of traditional and modern elements (such as interpreting classic regular script excerpts using running script brushwork, combining modern slogans with official script for creation, using special-material rice paper to present new calligraphy textures).
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Practical Creation Application
Emphasize original presentation and creative ability:
Submission Format:
High-definition image files of original calligraphy works (AI-generated content is prohibited; only basic editing such as brightness adjustment and angle cropping is allowed, while excessive post-production retouching or element splicing is forbidden). The images must fully present work details, including stroke clarity, ink layering, and composition layout integrity. For copied works or thematic creations, reference steles (if available) or creative concept explanations should be attached to assist in understanding the creation logic.
Materials: Professional tools and materials that conform to the calligraphy category should be used (such as the selection of brush hair for brushes, the classification of raw/processed rice paper, the adjustment of ink concentration). A brief description of the materials must be included when submitting (e.g., "Regular Script Creation (Excerpts from Disciple Rules): Written with a mixed-hair brush, on semi-processed rice paper, using Yidege ink"; "Running Script Copying (Excerpts from Preface to the Orchid Pavilion): Written with a wolf-hair brush, on raw rice paper, using aged ink"; "Official Script Creation (Viewing the Vast Sea): Written with a goat-hair brush, on processed rice paper, rendered with light ink").
Work Selection:
Children’s Group (8–12 yrs): Small-scale works (such as short regular script writing, simple Chinese character copying, basic stroke exercises), including copying and creating classic children's calligraphy content (such as excerpts from Three-Character Classic, writing of commonly used Chinese characters), basic calligraphy exercises (such as regular script basic stroke training, simple refined single-character writing), and simple original calligraphy excerpts (including font selection and basic composition design, no complex techniques required).
Adolescent Group (13–18 yrs): Complex works (such as complete whole-text regular script creation, impromptu running script expression, thematic official script creation, classic seal script copying), including in-depth interpretation of classic calligraphy works (such as full-text copying of Duo Bao Pagoda Stele, running script creation in the style of Preface to the Orchid Pavilion), thematic calligraphy creation (e.g., "Traditional Culture Inheritance", "Patriotic Feelings" series works), integration of diverse creation forms (such as works combining calligraphy and painting, mixed-font creation), and conceptual calligraphy works (e.g., exploring social issues such as "cultural confidence" and "youth ideals" through calligraphy, or conveying the spirit of the times).
Improvisation Tasks: Adolescent Group is required to complete a 30-minute quick writing or whole-text conception task based on the designated calligraphy theme (e.g., "Mid-Autumn Thoughts", "Integration of Tradition and Modernity") or designated font style (e.g., "Impromptu Yan-Style Regular Script", "Free Running Script Creation").
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Judging Criteria & Format
Evaluation Areas:
Technical Ability (50%): Precision of creation techniques, mastery of tools/materials, and execution of calligraphy theme-specific techniques (such as stroke standardization, ink rationality, composition integrity, style restoration).
Artistic Expression (30%): Depth of work theme interpretation, uniqueness of creation creativity, effectiveness of artistic conception transmission (such as the effectiveness of the work in showing calligraphy charm, the adaptability of creative ideas to font style).
Visual Effect (20%): Work structure integrity, calligraphy expressiveness, audience appeal (such as composition layering, ink appeal, overall artistic atmosphere).
Submission Rules:
One entry per participant; no copied or plagiarized works (including direct reproductions of existing work).
Blind judging: Judges receive anonymized submissions with no participant identifiers.
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Difficulty & Age Groups
Children’s Group: Focuses on basic skills (such as use of basic tools, simple font writing) and interesting expression (such as conveying the fun of calligraphy through creation, demonstrating basic writing techniques).
Adolescent Group: Higher requirements include theme complexity (e.g., exploring cultural integration and calligraphy connotation through creation), cross-technical attempts (e.g., combining traditional writing with modern design, mixed-font creation), and conceptual depth (e.g., conveying abstract concepts such as "inheritance and innovation", "cultural confidence" through calligraphy language).
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Submission & Results
Deadline: Upload digital submissions via the portal by [e.g., "May 31, 2026"].
Results: Announcement: Entries will be notified via email/social media within two weeks, and the results will be ranked based on the judges' scores. Awards include certificates and opportunities for online exhibition of outstanding works.
Exhibition: Outstanding works will be displayed in the online calligraphy gallery on the competition's official platform, showcasing the diverse cultures and artistic expressions of youth and children's calligraphy creations worldwide.
This framework balances technical proficiency and creative expression, highlighting the diversity of youth and children's calligraphy creations globally while promoting the inheritance and innovation of calligraphy techniques.