Campus Digest

HKBU receives donation of works of art from Professor Jao Tsung-I for charity auction to support development of Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology

18 Sep 2013

HKBU established the Hong Kong Baptist University Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology (BUJAS) in January 2013, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, for the purpose of understanding and preserving Chinese cultural heritage through focused research supplemented by teaching. The Academy was named after Professor Jao Tsung-i, a world-renowned master in Chinese classical studies, who also serves as its honorary permanent director. To support the scholarly activities, teaching and research at the Academy, Professor Jao recently generously donated 12 of his works of art for charity auction at a fundraising dinner to be held on 7 October.

Speaking at the donation ceremony today (18 September), Professor Albert Chan, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU and Co-Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Fundraising Dinner of BUJAS, praised Professor Jao Tsung-i as a rare and great contemporary master of sinology and a national treasure who has had a significant influence on the promotion of Chinese culture. Professor Chan said Professor Jao is well-versed in both Chinese and Western studies and is capable of blending knowledge with art. He said Professor Jao’s profound scholarly works covering a wide spectrum of 13 disciplines, including history, literature, art, Sanskrit, Oracle script, Buddhism, and epigraphy, have won international accolades. Professor Chan said it is a blessing to HKBU and those who love culture that Professor Jao agreed to serve as the honorary permanent director of BUJAS. Professor Chan presented a couplet he had composed as a souvenir to Professor Jao. In addition, Professor Chan also expressed his gratitude to all the members of the Fundraising Dinner Organising Committee of BUJAS as well as the donors for their ardent support to BUJAS.

Dr. Simon Suen, Co-Chairman of the Organsing Committee of the Fundraising Dinner of BUJAS, expressed his gratitude to and respect for Professor Jao for his kindness in donating his art works to raise funds. He said he truly believes that with the support and guidance of Professor Jao, BUJAS will serve as a significant platform for promoting cultural exchange both locally and internationally as well as enhancing the spread of Chinese studies to the West, contributing to the nation’s steps towards “renaissance”.

Dr. Thomas Tang, Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Fundraising Dinner of BUJAS, introduced the 12 art works. He said all the works share the characteristic of conveying the endless power and feeling of forward development, thus expressing faith in the continuous development of Chinese culture. The 12 art works included Two-character Couplet in Oracle Bone Script (安康 長年), Keen Progress (書易繫傳句), Five-character Couplet in Official Script (問學惟遜志 弘道不遠人), Pine with Seven-character Couplet in Official-cursive Script (松柏長青 連 章草七言聯), Pine in Moun Huang with Seven-character Couplet in Running Script (黃嶽松風 連 行書七言聯), Three-character Couplet in Official Script (書畫福 金石緣), Great Tolerance (海納百川), Ancient Tree on Peak Dayu with Five-character Couplet in Official Script (禹嶺神木 連 棣書五言聯), Silver Lotus with Seven-character Couplet in Running Script (銀荷 連 行書七言聯), Seven-character Couplet in Official Script (高軒有松石間此意 清福從茗爐中來), Five-character Couplet in Official Script (孝弟根其性 知識極誠明) and Red Lotus with Five-character Couplet in Running Script (亭亭出水來 連 行書五言聯)。

At the ceremony, Mr. So Kai-sing and Mrs. Susan So, Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, of Winnie Sanitary Product Limited, donated HK$2 million to support the work of BUJAS. Mr. Cheng Yan-kee, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, Dr. Simon Suen and Professor Albert Chan received the donation on behalf of HKBU. In addition, the upcoming Fundraising Dinner has so far raised more than HK$11 million. The significant donors include Miss Elizabeth Law, Managing Director of Park Hotel Property Management Limited who donated HK$5 million, Mr. Philip Tiu who donated HK$1 million and the Chi Tao Charitable Foundation Limited which donated HK$1 million.

Officiating guests at today’s ceremony also included Ms. Angeline Yiu and Mr. Wong Ting-chung, Member and Vice-Chairman respectively, of the Organising Committee of the Fundraising Dinner of BUJAS; Professor Lee Chack-fan, Director, Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole, The University of Hong Kong; and Professor Chen Zhi, Acting Director of BUJAS.