Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis (Master's)

Department or Program

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

First Advisor

Barbara Kreiger

Second Advisor

Anna Minardi

Third Advisor

Donald Pease

Abstract

The Flow of Ink: A Journey Through Calligraphy, Culture, and the Self, a non-fiction narrative that combines memoir and the world of Chinese calligraphy, focuses on my experiences learning the art starting at age seven. The combination of personal reflection and historical research, enhanced by ethnographic fieldwork, opens the way to one of China’s most culturally significant traditions, not merely as an artistic practice but also as a fundamental vessel of historical legacy. Most centrally, it traces my educational and personal evolution over eight years of practice that have fostered my growth and cultivated a deep sense of cultural memory and belonging.

The first chapters, focused on my early training, also set the foundation of the Chinese writing system and the material culture of calligraphy. Subsequent chapters turn to the historical evolution of script forms, examining how writing has continuously responded to utility and artistic expression. In later chapters, calligraphy enters the realm of my life as a young adult, becoming a means of expressing hope and processing grief. No longer a matter of external discipline, it is a space of meditation, a spiritual sanctuary, and a lifelong commitment to the process of personal growth.

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