The Art of Writing Manchu and Chinese
The Chinese language in the Manchu-Han dual language is profound and has a long history. The Manchu-Han dual language was formed by the organic combination of Chinese characters and Manchu language. Manchu language was personally initiated and created by Nurhaci, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty, in 1599. He ordered Erdeni and Gagai, two Confucian scholars, to refer to the Mongolian alphabet to create it. Manchu language is known as the old Manchu language without circles and dots, and it has been used for more than 30 years. In 1632, Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Taiji, ordered the Confucian scholar Dahai to improve it, adding circles and dots to the letters and standardizing the word forms, which has obvious characteristics different from Mongolian. It is known as the new Manchu language with circles and dots. The above information comes from the "Old Manchu Files". The Manchu-Han dual language was formed from the Qing Dynasty's first emperor Nurhaci, who changed the imperial edict and other documents into the style of Manchu-Han dual language in order to facilitate the hearing and discussion of government by officials of the Manchu and Han ethnic groups, forming today's "Manchu-Han dual language". Later, the palace plaque style of Manchu-Han dual language was developed. After the Revolution of 1911, the Qing regime ceased to exist, and the Manchu-Han dual language was also impacted. It was on the verge of extinction. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Premier Zhou Enlai proposed to set up a Manchu class at the Central University for Nationalities to pass on Manchu, but it died in a short time due to interference from the government. The grandfather of the applicant Zhenhai, Yehenara Heqing (the great-nephew of Empress Dowager Cixi), was a famous (Qianlong style) Manchu and Han bilingual calligrapher among the officials of the Eight Banners because he could write Manchu with his left hand and Han with his right hand. He was deeply praised by Empress Dowager Cixi and the court and the public. Zhenhai's father, Yehenara Ronghua, inherited his father's calligraphy art and practiced it for many years. Zhenhai has been trained since childhood and inherited his family's Manchu and Han bilingual calligraphy art. Zhenhai's daughter, Yehenara Jing, has been learning Manchu and Han bilingual calligraphy art from her grandfather and Zhenhai since childhood. Yehenara Jing's daughter, Yehenara Lichen, has been influenced and taught by her grandfather Zhenhai since childhood and has also learned Manchu and Han bilingual writing art. During the ten-year period, the Manchu and Han bilingual writing art was frustrated. After the reform and opening up, the Party and the government have done a lot of work to save the Manchu culture, and have held the "Aisin-Gioro Yehenara Family Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition". Zhenhai excavated and sorted out the Manchu-Han bilingual writing art that was on the verge of being lost. Zhenhai and his daughter's Manchu-Han bilingual works jointly participated in the calligraphy and painting exhibition. Manchu-Han bilingual calligraphy has also been exhibited many times in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and other regions and countries, and has received attention and welcome from all walks of life and overseas. Through Zhenhai's hard work and the support of the government, the Manchu-Han bilingual writing art of the Yehenara family has been inherited and protected, and the Manchu-Han bilingual writing has had a certain social impact. The works of Manchu-Han bilingual writing art have unique and outstanding artistic value and have been passed down for hundreds of years. (Rated as the sixth batch of intangible cultural heritage projects at the district level in 2016) Information source: District Culture and Tourism Bureau (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) Information source: District Culture and Tourism Bureau (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)