The Story of Jao Tsung-i

Abstract

There is a saying: ‘With Jao Tsung-i, Hong Kong is no longer a cultural desert.’ Throughout the hundred years of his life, Professor Jao Tsung-i had spared no effort to champion traditional Chinese culture. He believed that the river of Chinese culture flows on without end, and this faith also strengthened his motivation to teach, research and create works of art without stop. This catalogue is in five sections, based on Professor Jao’s life experiences and cultural activities: An Erudite Family Background (1917–1952), Researching through Teaching (1952–1968), Travels and Lectures (1968–1973), The Integration of Scholarship and Art (1973–1978) and An Even Richer Life after Retirement (1978–2018). Snapshots of his daily life, personal letters, academic and artistic achievements, literary writings and archive collections would give readers a comprehensive understanding of this Hongkong-based scholar as they trace his paths and stories in academia and the arts. He had become one of the most reputable names among scholars in Chinese studies and in many fields of studies in the world by sheer assiduous learning and exemplary perseverance. The life of Professor Jao represents ‘the reflection between scholarship and art’. He left valuable cultural wealth to Hong Kong, our country and the world, symbolising the ever-flourishing Chinese culture. 有人曾說：「香港有了饒宗頤，便不再是文化沙漠。」饒宗頤教授在他超過一百歲的人生之中，一直為推進中國傳統文化而努力。他相信中國文化是長流不息、不斷向前的，而這個信念亦成為了他畢生在教研及創作等方方面孜孜不倦的主要動力。 此冊以饒教授的人生經歷及文化活動為主線，共劃分為五個部份：家學淵源（1917–1952）、寓研於教（1952–1968）、上座傳經（1968–1973）、學藝雙攜（1973–1978）、退而不休（1978–2018）。透過饒教授在上述各時期的生活照片、私人信函、學藝成果、文學創作及其他文獻資料，讀者可從人生、學術、藝術及文學等多方面了解這位香港學者的故事，以及他如何專注於中華文化的研究，並因自身不懈的努力與堅持，使他在多方面皆獲得極高成就，成為一位享譽國際的國學泰斗。 饒教授「學藝相輝」的一生，為香港、國家及世界留下寶貴的精神財富，亦是中華文化生生不息的一個象徵。