To welcome the Year of the Snake in 2025, the Bank of Taiwan (BOT) is holding a 2-day “A Calligraphic Start to the New Year” event in the banking hall of the main bank on January 16 and 17, in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year. Calligraphy masters Hsueh Ping-Nan, Shih Chun-Mao, Huang Tsung-Yi, Chang Song-Lian have been invited to join BOT Chairman Ling,Jong-Yuan in writing “Bank of Taiwan Welcomes the Auspicious Snake” to welcome the new spring, and pray for a new year filled with wealth and good fortune.

Chairman Ling said that 2024 was a very challenging year for business. Nevertheless, the management team and all employees at BOT all worked together to achieve pre-tax profits of NT$32.195 billion in 2024. If policy-related liabilities are also counted then pre-tax profits exceeded NT$40 billion. This was the BOT’s best-ever result and represented the bank’s success in balancing quality and quantity. For 2025, the Chairman encouraged all staff to set the bar even higher. BOT will continue to embrace the spirit of professionalism and innovation in order to create even more value and wealth for clients.

Part of the Lunar New Year preparations involve “out with the old, in with the new.” The putting up of spring couplets written in black ink on red paper is a cherished tradition that best represents the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year. On the day, red paper was laid out and the air was filled with the fragrance of ink. The calligraphy masters wrote in bold strokes to convey the classical elegance of traditional calligraphy, while avant-garde calligraphy artists used novel techniques to inject new elements that gave calligraphy a modern twist. Spring couplets featuring traditional Chinese paintings that symbolize good fortune were also painted. These transformed the spring couplets into artworks in their own right to communicate the Lunar New Year atmosphere and culture.

The calligraphy event is being held in four sessions over two days. BOT had even prepared limited edition Lunar New Year gifts such as Prosperity Water and exquisite red packet envelopes symbolizing good luck so that bank visitors can also enjoy the festive atmosphere. The writing of spring couplets by calligraphy masters on the spot were the highlight of the event and people formed long queues to receive an example of their work. The limited edition Lunar New Year souvenirs are being given away at the event venue on a first-come, first-served basis. The public was invited to take part in “A Calligraphic Start to the New Year” event to experience the festive Lunar New Year atmosphere at BOT, and welcome the Year of the Snake in 2025 filled with hopes and well-wishes.