“Coming back to NTNU, I can’t say I am a guest that feels at home, because I am more like a host today and I want to welcome all of you here in NTNU.” Prestigious Writer Yu Guang Zhong, who is nearly 90, showed up at the Wen Hui Hall for the opening party for his exhibition and a book signing event. His fans filled up the whole space, hoping to see Professor Yu in person.
Yu Guang Zhong was born in 1928. After finishing his study in NTU, he went to the states for further education. He obtained a master’s degree of fine arts in the University of lowa in 1959 and came back to Taiwan to teach at universities like NTNU, NTU, NCCU. He was also a professor at Hong Kong Chinese University.
Yu in his works often focuses upon four fundamental aspects of literature; namely poetry, prose, translation, and commentary. Amongst the writers using Chinese, Yu Guangzhong has made himself well-received to readers by showing innovative humour in his essays, exhibiting wit in his appreciations, and evincing his understanding of humanistic culture in his poetry.
In order to pay tribute to the great work Professor Yu has put to education and literature, the library of NTNU, The Department of Chinese, the Global Chinese Writing Center and Chiuko Publishing Company held an one month exhibition of Master Yu at the library of NTNU. Scripts of his poetry are presented as well as films about Professor Yu. There are pen and paper provided so that audiences can write a poem and display their work at a corner of the exhibition.
Before the opening party, there were three forums discussing about translation, prose and poetry. Writer Chen Xingui, the head editor of Chiuko Publishing Company,
Former Dean of the Faculty of Arts in NTNU, Peng Jingxi and Distinguished Research Fellow Shan Te-hsing from the Academic Sinica were guests in this event.
On the opening ceremony, members of Nan-lu Chanting Club of NTNU and Alumni Chinese Orchestra chanted the poems of Professor Yu; Nanguan Musician Wang Xinxin composed a new melody for Xiang Chou, and sang the song in Quanzhou dialect and won a round of applause from the audiences.
This was a time to publish Professor Yu’s new works, a selective of poems and a selective of poetry. There was a signing session in the afternoon. Students lined up and waited for Professor Yu’s autograph patiently in the chilly weather.