Rubbing the Millennium-Old Cultural Context– Exploring the Civilization Code Behind Chinese Characters

Overview

Rubbing is an ancient and unique reproduction technique in China. It is mainly used to transfer texts , patterns or textures from the surface of objects onto paper. It is also an important component of China’s outstanding traditional culture. A mainland expert teacher collaborated with Hong Kong teachers to develop a school-based Chinese culture curriculum, which uses Chinese language as its foundation and integrates rubbing techniques with content from multiple subjects. Through a spiral learning model of "Text Interpretation (Chinese Characters) – Rubbing Practice– Cultural Creation", the curriculum aims to enhance students’ language proficiency while strengthening their cultural confidence. In this session, the mainland expert teacher and a Hong Kong teacher will share insights on curriculum design, implementation methods, teaching strategies, school-based experiences and achievements.

Based on the collaborating schools’ contexts, the mainland expert teacher integrated traditional skills that have been inscribed as intangible cultural heritage into the Chinese Language subject. By combining rubbing, calligraphy art and handwriting instruction, they transformed Chinese characters from abstract symbols into tangible cultural carriers, promoted cultural inheritance and innovation, deepened cultural identity, and cultivated students' cultural confidence.

Participants could:
1. Learn strategies for integrating traditional Chinese cultural elements into primary school Chinese Language Education; and
2. Understand how to help students inherit outstanding traditional culture and enhance their national identity.