18 December 2014
HSMC has conferred on Professor Jao Tsung-i Honorary Professor of HSMC and Honorary Adviser of The Institute for Chinese Language and Culture
As a world-renowned Chinese scholar, Professor Jao Tsung-i has attainedremarkable achievements in every field of humanities, including archaeology,literature, philology, musicology, history as well as arts and culture. HSMChas the honour to have successfully invited Professor Jao to be the Honorary Professor of HSMC and the HonoraryAdviser of The Institute forChinese Language and Culture, to promote Chinese culture studies.
Professor Jao has also generously given hiscalligraphy to HSMC as gifts, including calligraphies of 「商道惟誠」 and「中國語言及文化研習所」, which are now displayed at the Library and The Institute for ChineseLanguage and Culture on the second floor of S H Ho Academic Building.
The College is deeply grateful to ProfessorJao’s invaluable professional advice and encouragement, which could surely helpus further promote business ethics and Chinese culture.
Profile of Professor Jao Tsung-i
Professor Jao Tsung-i was born on 9August 1917 in Chao-on, Guangdong, also known by his courtesy names Gu’an,Bozi and Bolian.
Jao Tsung-i is a versatile scholar, renownedfor his academic and artistic achievements. He and the late Ji Xianlin aredubbed as “Jao of the South and Ji of the North” in China, for their leading roles in orientalstudies. Professor Jao has devoted his entire life to the pursuit of excellencein the world of academics and arts.
In the world of academics, Jao Tsung-i’s mottois to “seek the truth, seek the standard and seek justness”. He sparked offresearch on Dunhuang Manuscripts, now known as “Dunhuangology”, and Chaozhoustudies. Undertaking a diverse but converging path in his scholarly pursuits,his contributions cover thirteen genres spanning the entire field of sinology,including ancient history, oracle bone inscriptions, silk scripts, paleography,ancient musicology, religion and Chuchi. A prolific writer, he is the author ofmore than seventy books and more than nine hundred scholarly articles, many ofwhich have opened up new vistas of research possibilities.
Professor Jao has also roamed freely across theworld of arts. His literature, calligraphy and paintings blend classicaltraditions and innovation. His poetry, whilst complying with traditionalschematic rules, is contemporary in essence. His calligraphy is not confined byany particular style and even includes oracle bone paleographic calligraphy.His paintings are characterised by a unique vibrancy that matches his free spirit. (Source: Jao Tsung-i Academy website www.jtia.hk)
