As the Lunar New Year approaches, Taipei’s Mayor is showcasing his calligraphy skills to deliver early festive wishes.
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With the upcoming holiday festivities, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) has ushered in the festive season by personally crafting Chunlian (春聯) or spring couplets, traditional banners with auspicious words or verses written on red paper. In a departure from tradition and avoiding the use of his name, he uses a phrase similar to “Fortune and Dragon Arrive" for this year's spring couplet. It conveys the wish for abundant fortune, peace, and health in the Year of the Dragon.
Many people are hoping to get their hands on a copy of the mayor’s couplets. 200,000 copies of the mayor’s couplets are available free of charge at the Taipei City Government Building and local district offices.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德)have also joined forces to produce joint spring couplets and red envelopes, the first time a pair of consecutively serving presidents have collaborated on such a project.
Additionally, Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin’s (徐巧芯) unconventional golden-themed spring couplets, and Taipei City Councilor Huang Ching-yin's (黃瀞瑩) creatively worded wishes for the Year of the Dragon, have garnered attention and sparked lively discussions, especially among the younger generation.
During this festive season, political figures in Taiwan not only compete for popularity but also showcase creativity in their Lunar New Year blessings, generating waves of discussions and interest from the public.