Beard writting

Doan Van Tam used his goatee to write the calligraphic words  
The Vietnam Record Book Center said it was considering certifying two national records at the ongoing Festival Hue 2006 in the former imperial city.

After the festival opened Saturday, Doan Van Tam, a karateka and calligraphist, used his goatee to write the calligraphic words “Festival Hue 2006” on a 0.8m by 1m cloth. He is likely to be certified as the first Vietnamese to write calligraphy using his beard.

He had to spend an hour preparing for it, applying gel to his whiskers to stiffen them to a hard, pointed end.

The movement of the neck was crucial, he explained.

“In ancient China, there were men using their hair to write calligraphy. I do this just for fun.”

He began growing his beard six years ago as “it grows so fast, shaving it is tiresome”.

Local artist’s longest painting

The record center also said it was considering declaring Tran Van Mang’s 50m by 1.5m painting as the longest painting on burlap in Vietnam.

Since January this year, Mang, who resides in Hue city’s ancient quarter, has been drawing his giant picture on several burlap cloths joined together.

Themed ancient city and festivals, the picture depicts the spiritual and secular life in Hue’s olden times.

The record center also said it would announce 12 other records connected with the festival including the most preserved imperial complex, oldest castle, and highest bell-tower in Vietnam.

Souce: Thanhnien news