Known by his courtesy name Bolian (or Bozi) and his pen names of Xuantang and Gu’an, Professor Jao was born in Chaozhou, Guangdong in 1917 and has been devoted to academic research for more than 80 years. As one of the most renowned scholars and men of letters of our times, Professor Jao has made vital contributions to nearly every field of traditional Chinese culture. The scope of his scholarship extends from language to literature, from history to archaeology, and from oracle bone inscriptions to Dunhuang manuscripts. He has made profound contributions to too many disciplines to name, including ancient history, paleography, Dunhuang studies, Chinese classics, archaeology, history of China’s cultural contacts, history of religions (including Daoism, Buddhism, Brahmanism and Zoroastrianism), ethnology, historiography (including Chaozhou studies), bibliographical studies, and art history. Professor Jao is proficient in multiple languages, ranging from English and French to ancient languages such as Latin, Sanskrit and Pali. Moreover, as one of the most famous practitioners of classical Chinese culture, Professor Jao is noted for his original creation in poetry, calligraphy, painting and qin musical performance. As a dual master of both scholarship and art, and an intermediary between East and West, he has earned a world-class reputation in academic circles.

Professor Jao’s research life has always revolved around his commitment to understanding and communicating culture. He has helped to promote Chinese culture both as educator and as researcher, both in Hong Kong and around the world. He has held academic posts in France, the United States and Japan, and has cultivated numerous younger scholars who have gone on to their own major careers. The establishment of the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology is the embodiment of Professor Jao’s scholarly ideals, imbuing tradition with new meaning to bridge cultures and share insights in the present.

弘揚國學 傳承文化
會通古今 交流中西
Exploring tradition through innovative scholarship

「近年中國因經濟發達，國民自信心恢復，國學再度受到重視。各地紛紛設立國學院，多至數十家。大部分的國學院我都參觀過，其中最具規模，最有前瞻性的就是香港浸會大學饒宗頤國學院。院長陳致教授年青有為，善統籌規劃，活力十足。該院在陳院長引領下巳初見規模，正朝著國際漢學的研究為大方向前進，收集世界各國漢學著作，甚見用心，現巳有碩博士生數人、博士後研究人員數人，相信不久的將來，必成為世界漢學研究的重鎮。」
-- 林慶彰教授，台灣著名經學專家，中央研究院中國文哲研究所研究員。

“In celebration of Professor Jao Tsung-I's 100th birthday, it gives me great pleasure to salute the accomplishments of the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology at Hong Kong Baptist University. In the two short years since its establishment in 2013, JAS has already proven itself to be the most active center in Hong Kong for the study of all aspects of traditional Chinese culture, a fitting legacy for Professor Jao. I look forward to many more accomplishments in the years to come.”
─ Professor Edward L. Shaughnessy, world-leading American Sinologist, Creel Distinguished Service Professor of Early China The University of Chicago.

「國學院溝通古今中外，作育四方英才，祝越辦越好！」
-- 陳劍教授，古文字學專家，復旦大學出土文獻與古文字研究中心教授。