2021.09.14
Construction of the Jieying Museum has recently begun on the south side of campus. Designed by noted architect Huang Sheng-yuan(黃聲遠) of Fieldoffice Architects to blend into the natural features of the site, the building will display a variety of unique East Asian cultural relics, and is expected to be completed late next year.
The funds for constructing the building were donated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) chairman F.C. Tseng(曾繁城), who holds an honorary doctorate from NTHU, and the Museum will be named after his parents. The main collection will consist of several thousand items donated by Chair Professor Yang Rur-bin of the Graduate Institute of Philosophy.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Yang and Tseng’s wife, Chen Han(陳韓), were presented with glass models of the Museum by NTHU president Hocheng Hong as a token of appreciation. The one-of-a-kind souvenir was designed and handcrafted by Huang and Hsiao Ming-tun(蕭明芚), assistant dean of NTHU’s College of Arts.
The building site of the new museum has long been occupied by an old three-section-house, the main section of which will be preserved. The new building naturally blends into the surrounding landscape and will include an audio-visual room, a lecture hall, four exhibition areas, an administrative office, a storage room, and a research room, all skirted by a tree-lined walkway.
Huang said that the old house is surrounded by a variety of fruit trees, including wax apple, longan, and mango, most of which will be preserved, so that the new building naturally blends in with its surroundings. With the same goal in mind, he has adopted a rustic low-rise design for the new building, which incorporates such eco-friendly materials as recycled glass and washed stone, and gives the impression of being a big tree next to the old house.
President Hocheng lauded Tseng for his generosity and filial piety, adding that “To make a name for oneself, and thereby glorify one’s parents, is the epitome of filial piety.” He also thanked Professor Yang, who has taught at NTHU for many years, for donating such a unique collection of valuable items personally collected over many years, many of which touch on the history of Tsinghua University.
Hocheng said that cultural and historical relics provide insight into the past and serve as a window into the future. Pointing out that the museum will be the first of its kind amongst Taiwanese universities, he expects it to eventually be mentioned alongside such renowned repositories of knowledge on East Asia as the Harvard-Yenching Library at Harvard University and the C.V. Starr East Asian Library at the University of California, Berkeley.
In regards to his donation, Yang said that he is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to society. As Yang sees it, “I used my salary from teaching at NTHU to acquire this collection, so it’s an honor to donate it, as a way of giving something back to NTHU,” adding that he looks forward to the Museum eventually becoming a principal source of information on modern China and East Asia.
Chen Han said that her father-in-law, Tseng Jie, was an upright and straightforward man who joined the military in his early years. After leaving the military, instead of accepting an offer to manage a discount shop for employees of the public sector, he decided to return to his hometown to raise chickens, with F.C. Tseng and his sister pitching in to help with the grunt work. Her mother-in-law, Huang Yueying(黃月英), ran the household with exemplary diligence and thrift, so that despite the family’s limited budget, there was always enough to eat. It was only after F.C. Tseng began earning an income that the family’s financial situation began to improve, and when he eventually became well off, he wanted to use his wealth in a meaningful way.
She said that she is highly pleased with Huang’s simple yet elegant design for the Museum, and that it will provide an ideal venue for displaying Yang’s impressive collection of artifacts.
Amongst the many distinguished guests at the groundbreaking ceremony were F.C. Tseng’s sister Tseng Shufang(曾淑芳); Yang’s wife, Professor Fang Sheng-ping(方聖平) of the Center for General Education; Alumni Association president Tsai Jinbu(蔡進步); dean of general affairs Yan Dung-yung(顏東勇); Museum Preparatory Office director (謝小芩); and Jiaen Construction chairman You Shihhsien(游士賢).
Distinguished guests at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jieying Museum.
Distinguished guests at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jieying Museum.
Distinguished guests, left to right: Huang(黃聲遠), Yan(顏東勇), Tsai(蔡進步), Chen(陳韓), Hocheng(賀陳弘), Yang(楊儒賓), Hsieh(謝小芩), and You(游士賢).
NTHU president Hocheng Hong (right) presenting Chen Han(陳韓) (middle) with a glass model of the Museum. On the left is F.C. Tseng’s sister Tseng Shufang(曾淑芳).
Hocheng said that the museum will be the first of its kind amongst Taiwanese universities.
Huang presenting the building’s design.
Yang (楊儒賓)said that he looks forward to the Museum eventually becoming a principal source of information on modern China and East Asia.
NTHU president Hocheng Hong (right) presenting Yang (楊儒賓) (middle) and Fang (方聖平) (left) with a glass model of the Museum.
Chen Han (陳韓)said that the Museum will provide an ideal venue for displaying Yang’s impressive collection of artifacts.
The design of the new building incorporates an old house and the surrounding trees.
Huang adopted a rustic low-rise design which incorporates such eco-friendly materials as recycled glass and washed stone.
A simulation of how the new building will seamlessly blend into its environment.
The glass model of the Museum was designed and handcrafted by Huang and Shiau Ming-twen, assistant dean of NTHU’s College of Arts.
In combination with the existing old house (yellow), the new building (purple) will form a U-shape.
