Recently, a new year-themed rubbing event titled "Imprinting the New Year, Rubbing for Good Fortune" was held at the Cultural Center of Nanjing University. Jointly organized by NJU Graduate Student Union and Nanjing Association for Cultural Communication, the activity offered international students an immersive journey into this traditional Chinese craft.
The activity commenced with a specialized instruction ofthe art of rubbing. Guiding attendees through its historical progression, the instructor detailed the technique's development and presented a selection of works spanning classical to contemporary examples.
In the hands-on segment, guided by the instructor, the students meticulously applied gold powder to createauspicious horse motifs on New Year calendars. The golden patterns added a graceful beauty to the calendars, conveying sincere hopes for the coming year. Then, theyproceeded to create other traditional New Year symbols. Following a sequence of steps—smoothing the paper, saturating the pad with ink, refined rubbings emerged on the paper, each infused with cultural significance and traditional artistry.
Through the interactive session of rubbing, international students connected with Chinese historical tradition and cultural heritage, while inscribing their aspirations for the new year. Beyond a mere craft workshop, the activity provided a platform for cross-cultural exchange, fostering mutual understanding among diverse cultural backgrounds.
