One of the joys of traveling through China is visiting the parks and watching the creativity of the people who gather there. This photo was taken at the Summer Palace in Beijing. As I walked through its beautiful grounds, I came upon this woman doing something that deeply impressed me.
She was practicing water calligraphy, or “dishu” (地书), using a special calligraphy brush that holds water in its handle. Instead of dipping the brush into water repeatedly, she gently squeezed the handle, allowing water to flow down into the brush tip and enabling her to continue writing seamlessly. With this clever tool, she painted beautiful Chinese characters onto the pavement, writing poem lines and phrases on the stone walkway. What makes this art form so unique is its fleeting nature. Within a short time, the water evaporates, and the writing disappears as if it were never there.
A Moment of Connection
I stopped and said hello to her in Chinese, “Ni hao.” She smiled warmly and greeted me back, then handed me her water brush, motioning for me to write something in English. I took the brush and wrote a word on the pavement. It was a delightful and meaningful exchange with her. I find the people in the parks to be very friendly. Many want you to come and participate with them. Because I was alone, they weren’t sure if I was a tourist or a local. Still, they were always eager and willing to include me in whatever activity they were doing—whether it was water calligraphy, tai chi, or even a game of badminton.
An Unscripted Tradition
One thing that touched me about this scene was how natural it all felt. No one was organizing the activity. There was no official program or structured class. The people came to the park, bringing their brushes, tai chi swords, badminton rackets, or musical instruments, and they filled the space with life, creativity, and community.
The Art of Letting Go
This woman’s water calligraphy felt like a metaphor for life itself—beautiful, meaningful, and fleeting. Her writing left no permanent mark, but her presence and her art brightened my day and left a lasting impression on my heart.
