Any idea who wrote the four Chinese characters: “Simplicity, Truthfulness, Firmness, and Perseverance” that also stand for the university’s motto? They were by the renowned Chinese calligrapher, Yu You-ren.

Mr. Yu were highly esteemed at Tamkang. In honor of his political and artistic achievements, many distinctive landmarks at the campus are named after him. For instance, the road that lies between the two rows of Chinese palace-style classrooms is called You-ren Road; Mu-yang (Shepherd’s) Bridge, and Mu-yang (Shepherd’s) Meadow are all connected with him, commemorating his assiduous spirit.

His works, more than 50 of them, will be highlighted in an exhibition held at TKU that is jointly organized by the CCFAC (Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center), Yu You-ren Calligraphy Collection Research Center, and China Calligraphy Association. In Taiwan, this is the second largest display of his works that also include paintings and Chinese chop carving since the exhibition at the National Museum of History in 2006.

Mr. Yu was born in 1879 in China, and worked as a shepherd boy as a child. He joint Dr. Sun Yet-san’s revolutionary party when he was very young and had worked with Dr. Sun, the founding father of the Republic of China, side by side in several important combats. He was the commander in chief in the Shan-si Province during the war against General Yuan Shih-kai, a fearful warlord in the post-Ching Dynasty era. He passed away in 1964 after having devoted his entire life to a modernized and democratic China. Even at the time of his death, (at the age of 86!), he was still the Minister of the Control Yuan. Political passion aside, he was also outstanding in arts and literature. His unique calligraphy (standard cursive script) and poetry are well respected.

The reception to the exhibition will be held in the morning of June 8 and exhibition runs until the end of July. ( ~Ying-hsueh Hu )