Jao Tsung-I Academy
Jao Tsung-I Academy is located in a Grade 3 historic building complex with a century-old history. It is one of the first revitalization projects under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Development Bureau’s “Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme” . The non-profit charity “The Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture” is directly involved in the restoration, revitalization and daily operations of the building. It is named “Jao Tsung-I Academy (JTIA)” after Professor Jao Tsung-i, a contemporary Master of Chinese Culture.
JTIA is located on a hilltop in Lai Chi Kok. The buildings on the current site have been used for different purposes, such as a hospital, a customs branch, a Chinese workers' settlement, a quarantine station, a prison, an infectious disease hospital and a mental hospital. Despite their different roles, they played a special role with their unique location and architecture to respond to the needs of the society at that time. Now, the buildings have been revitalized as a landmark cultural platform to respond to the needs of today's society for cultural development.
Professor Jao Tsung-i
Jao Tsung-i, the Master of Chinese Studies, is renowned for his academic and artistic achievements. He is often mentioned alongside renowned scholar and artist Ji Xianlin, as “Jao of the South and Ji of the North”. Jao Tsung-i has devoted his entire life to the pursuit of excellence in the academic and artistic worlds.
In the academic world, Jao Tsung-i has pursued research with a passion that few has equalled. His motto is to “Seek the Truth, Seek the Standard, and Seek the Justness”. He pioneered research on the Dunhuang Manuscripts (now known as “Dunhuangology”) and in Chaozhou Studies. His research covers 13 genres spanning the entire field of Chinese culture, including ancient history, oracle bone inscriptions, and chuci. A prolific writer, he is the author of over 900 scholarly articles.
Jao Tsung-i roams freely in the artistic world. His literary writings, calligraphy, and paintings blend classical traditions and innovation. His poetry, whilst complying with traditional schematic rules, is contemporary in essence. His calligraphy is not confined by any particular style, and he has created his own unique oracle bone palaeographic calligraphy. His paintings are vibrant yet simple, full of variation and bold innovation that matches his free spirit. Jao Tsung-i, as a renowned scholar, has won much admiration and honours for his contribution to the world of arts. His unusual life is worthy of our appreciation and respect.