Master Jao Tsung-i

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 presen