A book on poetry, calligraphy, and paintings has been recognized as the biggest collection of poems presented under calligraphy and paintings by the Vietnam Guinness Book Center (Vietbooks) at Phu Tho Stadium at 1 Lu Gia Street in Ward 15 in HCMC’s District 11.   “A View”, by Vu Dang Hoc, a 26-year-old overseas Vietnamese, includes 246 pages between its vignette-carved covers and uses two special kinds of paper imported from Japan and China for calligraphy.

It is 128 centimeters long, 87 centimeters wide, 12 centimeters thick and weighs nearly 200 kilograms.

 

The book expresses the author’s philosophies of life as well as confidences and concerns about friendship, love between men and women and love of the country.

 

Although the book was completed within eight months, from April 24 to December 10, 2008, the poems were collected over 10 years of the author’s childhood.

 

Hoc joined HCMC’s Calligraphy Club when he was in high school. He is now a secretary of the international calligraphy association in the United States.

 

Professor Tran Van Khe, one of the greatest masters of traditional Vietnamese music, remembers Hoc as a youth with natural born talents in calligraphy and poetry.

 

Hoc published a book called “Soul of Vietnamese Calligraphy”. He intends to publish a booklet of poetry, calligraphy, and paintings and one on the theory and practice of Vietnamese calligraphy.

 

Hoc returned to Vietnam after many years in the United States with an aim to introduce Vietnamese calligraphy to international friends. He set up a website for this noble purpose via http://honchuviet.com. His calligraphic writings and his 200 kilogram book are now on display at Phu Tho Stadium.

 

For more information, contact Hoc at dariandang@yahoo.com or 0904567867 or 0908505000.