On January 1st, 2011, the 7th annual Chinese Character Festival commenced. The Director of the Tamkang Research Office of Chinese Calligraphy, Chang Ben-hang, was among the official dignitaries to help get proceedings under way. Other such dignitaries included the President of the Republic of China, Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, KMT Secretary General Wu Den-yi, Taipei Mayor Hao Long-bin, and Taipei City Council Speaker Wu Bi-chu. On square sheets of red rice paper, each of the representatives wrote one Chinese character as a hope, a blessing for Taiwanese society in 2011. Ben-hang wrote the character 靖 ‘Jing’, meaning peace and tranquility. He said: “I hope that in 2011 we can advance toward a more stable, peaceful society.”