The Japanese government announced the recipients of its 2026 Spring Decorations for foreign nationals on April 29, with Ben-Hang Chang, Director of the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center at Tamkang University and Professor in the Department of Chinese Literature, receiving the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in recognition of his longstanding dedication to calligraphy and outstanding contributions to cultural exchange between Taiwan and Japan.

The decoration primarily honors Chang’s many years of efforts in promoting artistic exchange and collaboration between Taiwan and Japan in the field of calligraphy. Through organizing joint Taiwan–Japan exhibitions and international calligraphy alliance exhibitions, as well as publishing books and holding solo exhibitions in Japan, he has actively expanded the international influence of calligraphy art. By integrating technology into artistic innovation and promoting youth exchange activities, he has also deepened cultural understanding between Taiwan and Japan while strengthening international cultural networks.

With more than six decades devoted to calligraphy, Chang began promoting calligraphy education to the public in the 1980s through TV programs such as Chinese Calligraphy (《中國書法》) and One Character a Day (《每日一字》), helping bring the art form into everyday life. He has also played an active role in teaching and institutional development, currently serving as President of the Taiwan Calligraphy Association, the International Calligraphers Association, and the International Lanting Calligraphy Society. Through exhibitions, competitions, academic exchanges, and lectures in Japan and other countries, he has continued to enhance the international visibility of Taiwanese calligraphy. In 2001, Chang collaborated with a research team from Tamkang University’s Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering to develop the “e-Pen Calligraphy” system. With strong support from alumnus Chin-Tsai Chen, Chairman of WIN Semiconductors, and in partnership with Dean Tzung-Hang Lee of the College of Engineering and the College of Artificial Innovative Intelligence, the team later launched the “Tamkang e-Pen Dual-Track Development Project.” By integrating AI technologies into digital calligraphy applications, they developed the “Smart e-Pen” system, pioneering new possibilities for traditional calligraphy art in the digital era.

Established in 1875 during the Meiji era, the Order of the Rising Sun is a national decoration awarded by the Japanese government to individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the nation, public affairs, or the promotion of international relations, including academic and cultural exchange. Previously, two professors from Tamkang University had also received the decoration: Honorary Professor Bor-Tau Chen of the Department of Japanese in 2014, and Honorary Professor Pih-Siung Lin in 2015, both recognized for their outstanding contributions to Japanese studies, academic exchange, and Japanese-language education in Taiwan. Their achievements reflect Tamkang University’s longstanding dedication to Taiwan–Japan exchange and collaboration.