Niklas Lemcke - In Search of the Essense of Chinese Culture；One Hundred and One Years Young-The Inspiring Life of Chao Mu-he／深入中華文化的精髓 林樂寬；101歲正青春 趙慕鶴
Niklas Lemcke - In Search of the Essense of Chinese Culture
◎English translation by Ling Fang-Ju
◎Photo by Hou Ya-ting
Niklas Lemcke, is a German exchange student studying Chinese at Wenzao Ursuline College. After beginning his studies a year and a half ago, he has learned to speak Chinese fluently. Niklas fell in love with Chinese culture as a youngster and was inspired by Bruce Lee's Kung Fu movies. He also took Chinese courses when he was at school in Germany. Niklas decided Kaohsiung's student exchange program would be the perfect place to learn Chinese and connect with the Chinese-speaking world.
Niklas brought out one of his impressive calligraphy works. He explained that he was inspired by cursive calligraphy's elegance and creativeness, so he asked his calligraphy teacher if he could switch to this style. On New Year's Eve 2012, Nikalas even got the opportunity to do calligraphy on spring festival couplets and work with some of Taiwan's great calligraphy masters. The fact he's a foreigner, with such impressive cursive calligraphy got him a lot of request from locals. With ease he completed anything from regular blessings to impromptu works. Niklas does calligraphy based on basic strokes; therefore, he is able to write any character even if he doesn't recognize it. His favorite words include "雲遊" (Wandering) and "文武合一" (Syncretizing literature and martialarts).
The feeling of freedom he gets from his cursive calligraphy can also be reflected in his overall philosophy of life. Niklas also studies martial arts. In Germany, he studied Wing Chun for self-defense; however in Kaohsiung he studies Tai Chi. He feels martial arts and calligraphy are similar in several ways and therefore martial arts have helped him improve his calligraphy skills.
Niklas is also concerned about the earth and environmental protection. Although he's a vegetarian, he still enjoys local delicacies. Some of his favorites include fried rice and Mapo Tofu. He has also discovered and enjoys shaved ice in Taiwan. Niklas embraces his life in Kaohsiung and is used to being around Chinese people. He also plans to stay and continue his college education here, as he expects the free and open, learning environment.
深入中華文化的精髓 林樂寬
◎文／張嘉玲
◎攝影／侯雅婷
拎著一袋台式早餐，一年半前到文藻華語中心研習的德國學生林樂寬(Niklas Lemcke)，以一口流利的中文侃侃而談。回想起與中華文化相識的過程，林樂寬說，幼年時李小龍的功夫電影和學校的少許中文課，使他對中華文化著迷。因緣際會，透過交換學生專案，再加上朋友的推薦，他選擇到高雄學習中文作為他在華語世界的起點。
談到中華文化，林樂寬展示一幅他書寫的書法作品，令人驚艷，他表示，偶然見到飄逸奔放的行草後，主動向老師表示要從楷書改學行草，書法上的表現，讓林樂寬於2012年春節前夕，與數位書法名家現場揮毫寫春聯，金髮碧眼的外籍朋友書寫書法，造成轟動，前來求字的人絡繹不絕，從常見的祝詞，到臨時求字的民眾，林樂寬都可以一一完成。林樂寬說，他按著書法的基本筆法書寫，即使是他不認識或沒練過的字，也可以寫出來。林樂寬最愛書寫的字句是「雲遊」以及「文武合一」，他說，行草自由、無拘束的感覺正是他的生活態度。除了學書法，他還學武術。原本在德國就學了詠春拳防身的林樂寬，在高雄更學習太極拳法，他說，在武術中他領悟到與書法相為印證的道理，學習書法更有心得。
關心地球與環境保護的林樂寬是位素食主義者，但這不妨礙他在高雄品嚐美食，他最愛的食物是炒飯及麻婆豆腐，來台後首度見識到大口吃刨冰的豪邁。在高雄生活的體驗讓林樂寬回味無窮，他計畫留在台灣申請大學，期待一個更為開放、自由的學習環境。
One Hundred and One Years Young-The Inspiring Life of Chao Mu-he
◎English translation by Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photo by Hou Ya-ting
"I stopped eating breakfast about 85 years ago," says Mr. Chao Mu-he with the casual demeanor of someone who has lived for over a century. People often refer to him by his endearing nickname, "Grandpa Chao". His eyes are still clear and sparkly. He doesn't act or appear to be one-hundred at all. He lives in a 4-story walk-up and goes out every day, cleaning the streets around his block. He lives independently and takes good care of himself. He still travels internationally and in February 2012, he went to Hong Kong to participate in a calligraphy demonstration. The word "aging" does not seem to apply to Grandpa Chao.
Grandpa Chao specializes in a very unique type of calligraphy called the Bird-and-Insect Script. Characters resemble birds or caterpillars. Mr. Chao is in full command of his brush strokes and steadily moves his hand rhythmically along the table. Each move is controlled and as natural as breathing. A composition of poetic verses is completed in moments. It can be read it as a piece of calligraphy or viewed as an artistic painting of birds and insects. The curator of the British Library also picked up one of Mr. Chao's Bird and Insect Scripts by chance and was extremely impressed with its breathtaking presentation. Mr. Chao generously donated the piece to the Library as a gift.
Grandpa Chao has been doing Bird and Insect Script since he was 14. He would often practice until 2 am. He is an artist in the truest form. His works are not for sale; however, he often gives away his work. Recent publicity focusing on his calligraphy hasn't changed his attitude about life. Grandpa Chao believes it is best to live a calm and simple life.
Grandpa Chao has broken several records. At 74, he traveled Europe alone, without a word of English. He earned a MA degree when he was 98 and didn't miss a class. At 100 years old, he was the first Taiwanese calligrapher to have his work collected by the British Library. This year at 101, he wrote his first book that shares his life's stories and philosophy.
Grandpa Chao was born in 1912. Over the years he has seen society change; however, he stands by the importance of family, respect for parents and the importance of working diligently. He believes the easiest way to live without worry is to follow one's conscience, and to do one's best. Grandpa Chao's life philosophy has been tried, tested and found to be true for a hundred years. He has also experience many ups and downs in the past century, yet his character remains the same. Just like a piece of jade, regardless of its environment, the inner glow will never diminish.
101歲正青春 趙慕鶴
◎文．攝影／侯雅婷
「我已經85年沒吃早餐了！」101 歲的趙慕鶴爺爺一開口就語出驚人。沒有老態龍鍾的樣貌，他的眼睛清澈，頂著一頭柔順的白髮，家住四樓的趙爺爺每天爬上爬下，打掃住家附近的環境，自己打理生活。今年2月，趙爺爺受到香港工商協會邀請，飛到香港現場揮毫，青春彷彿在趙爺爺身上停格。
趙爺爺寫得一手漂亮的鳥蟲體書法，手仍然穩穩地握著毛筆，下筆力道十足，運筆間，筆鋒一轉，一撇成了活靈活現的鳥形躍然於紙上。大英圖書館曾於偶然間見到以鳥和蟲圖像書寫的鳥蟲體書法，大為驚豔，趙爺爺慨然捐贈，成為該館首位珍藏的台灣書法家作品。
趙爺爺從14歲開始寫鳥蟲體書法，常常書法一寫就到半夜二點。以鳥蟲體書法享譽國際的趙爺爺是性情中人，字畫只送不賣。趙爺爺說會寫鳥蟲體書法沒有什麼了不起，恬淡而平實的生活著。
趙爺爺的人生不斷地寫下紀錄。74歲時，不懂英文的他獨遊歐洲；98歲時，取得碩士學位，趙爺爺說他沒有缺席過任何一堂課；100歲時，鳥蟲體書法被大英圖書館收藏，101歲時，趙爺爺出書分享他學習和處世的心情點滴。
出生民國一年的趙爺爺分享他的智慧，他說，雖處於工商業社會，但人生中的核心價值，比如家庭、父母和工作不應因為時代變遷而有所改變，他還說，做人正正當當，忠於工作，把事情做好了，心情自然輕鬆，沒有煩擾。百歲人瑞趙爺爺走過一世紀，歷經風雨卻像溫潤的玉石一般，曖曖內含光。