The Lotus Pond (Light and Shadow)

The pond is named “Light and Shadow” inspired by Song dynasty scholar Zhu Xi’s poem “Viewing Books and Feelings”.

“The half-acre pond is like an opened mirror,
Reflecting the sky and clouds.
Why is the pond so clear?
From the source flows fresh water.”

The message is that people can be like fresh water, endlessly seeking new knowledge.

Professor Jao’s love for painting lotuses shows the noble man’s sentiment of “the lotus grows in mud, yet is never contaminated by it”, a phrase mentioned in Song dynasty scholar Zhou Dunyi’s iconic essay “On the Love of Lotus”.  Professor Jao also painted his own unique lotus, forming his distinctive “Jao Lotus” style.  The word “lotus” in Chinese also has the meaning of “to shoulder responsibilities”, reflecting his commitment to the promotion of Chinese culture and the “cultural heritage” mission of the Academy.  For these reasons, lotuses are planted in the pond.

Did you know?
During the revitalisation process, the specialist team used a huge mirror to find the best reflecting position and only then built the lotus pond so that it could reflect the scenery surrounding it.

Bronze Statue of Professor Jao Tsung-i

The bronze statue stands 1.8 meters tall, slightly taller than life size. It stands calmly in the courtyard, demonstrating Professor Jao’s elegant, peaceful, and profound scholarly style.

About the Sculptor
Ji Feng, courtesy name Xueya, was born in Anhui Province, China in 1973. Ji studied under famous artists Han Meilin and Feng Qiyong. In 1999, he established an art studio in Beijing. He has created around a hundred statues of historical and cultural figures. His sculptures are imbued with the spirit of traditional Chinese art.

Commemorated Ficus for Jao Tsung-i and Charles Kao

Professor Jao Tsung-i and Professor Charles Kao had a long family friendship. These two distinguished scholars, masters of the arts and sciences respectively, have made a tremendous contribution to the world. In the Spring of 2015, they visited the Academy together with their families to officiate at the Tree Planting Ceremony of a Ficus rumphii seedling.

The tree is an extremely vigorous evergreen with drooping leaves. In addition to commemorating these two academic giants of their generation, the flourishing tree  symbolizes the endless vitality of Jao Tsung-I Academy and our commitment to pass Chinese culture on to our future generations.