National Taiwan University History Gallery English Contents Floor Plan 3 Permanent Exhibition 5 ◆University Spirit 5 ◆Chronology 6 ◆University Symbols 7 ◆Academic Achievements 9 ◆The Many Sides of NTU 9 ◆Services to Society 12 ◆Campus Life 12 ◆Criticism and Reflection 12 ◆Evolution of University Campus 13 ◆Life Maps of NTU Campus 14 ◆Old Main Library Revisited 14 ◆Multimedia Room 15 ◆Chuan Lyu Exhibition Hall 15 Guided Tours 15 Wedding Photography(NTU affiliates only) 16 Preservation of Memorabilia 16 Call for Old Photographs 16 Oral History 17 Anecdote Sharing 17 Public Programs 17 Questions and Answers 18 01 | 02 NTU HISTORY GALLERY Floor Plan Conference Room 256 254 253 255 Office Office Entrance Entrance Inscription Information University Spirit Criticism and Reflection Chronology Evolution of University Campus University Symbols Life Maps of NTU Campus Academic Achievements Old Main Library Revisited The Many Sides of NTU Multimedia Room Services to Society Chuan Liu Exhibition Hall Campus Life Conference Room University Spirit Criticism and Reflection Chronology Evolution of University Campus University Symbols Life Maps of NTU Campus 256 254 253 255 Academic Achievements Old Main Library Revisited The Many Sides of NTU Multimedia Room 臺大面面觀 Office Office Services to Society Chuan Liu Exhibition Hall Campus Life ince its inauguration in the morning of June 22, 2005, the Gallery has been operated by Entrance Entrance the University Library, and has served as a welcoming rest stop for returning alumni Inscription Sand provided a window for visitors to become acquainted with the history of Taiwan’s most illustrious university. The opening ceremony was presided over jointly by the incumbent Information President Wei-jao Chen, ex-President Chao-chung Yu, the President-elect Si-chen Lee, and Dr. Chi-lu Chen of the Academia Sinica. 臺大面面觀 03 | 04 NTU HISTORY GALLERY Permanent Exhibition With a floor space of 754 square meters, the permanent exhibition hall is housed in the former central reading room of the old Main Library, the construction of which has undergone five phases of expansion since 1929. The lofty ceiling and tall arched windows reflect an air of stately academic dignity and architectural elegance. Having borne ample witness to the diligence of students in the pursuit of excellence for the past eight decades, the site now serves as a faithful chronicler of the university’s history. ◆University Spirit The Chinese characters displayed prominently at the entrance convey the founding principle of the university, liberalism and intellectual freedom. This sentence was first laid down by President Ssu-nien Fu during a period of political turmoil and unrest. He encouraged us to always insist on dedicating the university to the concept of the universal spirit, regardless of changes in circumstance, an idea that was originally proclaimed by the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677). Since then, the pursuit of eternal and infinite truths has remained our most important and significant guiding spirit. ◆Chronology This exhibit chronicles the growth of Taiwan’s oldest institution of higher learning. Since its inception as Taihoku Imperial University with only two faculties, i.e., in literature and politics; the other in science and agriculture, the school has flourished and become a full-fledged integrated research-oriented institution, being renamed National Taiwan University, with eleven colleges and three schools now. The exhibit features portraits of successive presidents, major events during each of their terms, guiding precepts of their administrations, photographs, documents and other related paraphernalia. We look forward to your visit. •Taihoku Imperial University The predecessor of National Taiwan University was Taihoku Imperial University (TIU), established in 1928 during Japanese colonial rule. One of nine imperial universities founded under the old system of Tutorial Program Chairs, by 1940s TIU had expanded from the initial two faculties to five; i.e. Literature and Politics, Science, Agriculture, Medicine, and Engineering. Three research institutes (Tropical Medicine, Southern Cultures and Southern Resources) and a preparatory school were also added as well. The four Taihoku Imperial University Presidents: Taira Shidehara （March 1928 - August 1937） Sadanori Mita （September 1937 - April 1941） Masatsugu Ando （April 1941 - March 1945） Kazuo Ando （March1945 - October 1945） •National Taiwan University When Japanese rule in Taiwan ended after World War II, Doctor Tsung-lo Lo, the director of the Institute of Botany at Academia Sinica, was appointed by the Chinese Nationalist government to take over the Taihoku Imperial University. The transfer was completed on November 15, 1945. The school was renamed as National Taiwan University (NTU), with only six colleges of Liberal Arts, Science, Law, Medicine, Engineering, and Agriculture at that time. We now own eleven colleges and three schools, i.e. Colleges of Liberal Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Bio-resources and Agriculture, Management, Public Health, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Law, and Life Science; Schools of Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, and Pharmacy. 05 | 06 NTU HISTORY GALLERY Up to the present NTU has had eleven presidents and two acting presidents. Their names and terms of office are as follows： Tsung-lo Lo (October 1945 - July 1946) Tse-hong Loh (August 1946 - May 1948) Chang-kung Chuang (June 1948 - December 1948) Ssu-nien Fu (January 1949 - December 1950) Kang-po Shen (December 1950 - March 1951 acting) Shih-liang Chien (March 1951 - May 1970) Chen-hsing Yen (June 1970 - July 1981) Chao-chung Yu (August 1981 - July 1984) Chen Sun (August 1984 - February 1993) Guang-hsiung Kou (March 1993 - June 1993 acting) Wei-jao Chen (June 1993 - June 2005) Si-chen Lee (June 2005 - June 2013) Pan-Chyr Yang (June 2013 - present) ◆University Symbols • University Tree – Royal Palm Immediately visible from the main entrance are two straight lines of towering royal palm trees, stretching like sentinels all the way to the main library at the other end of the campus. The Royal Palm Boulevard, as it is known, first took shape during the days of the Taihoku Imperial University, and underwent modifications as the campus expanded. It is the pride and joy of the NTU community, and the coveted destination of countless students since elementary school. The Royal Palm itself, named for its towering and majestic appearance, was first introduced into Taiwan in 1898. • University Flower – Azalea These perennials are one of the most famous symbols associated with the National Taiwan University. Every March when the entire campus is ablaze with colorful blooms and the university holds its annual Azalea Festival, visitors from all corners flock to the campus to experience the beauty of “Azalea Town,” as NTU is nicknamed. During its days as the TIU prior to 1945, the campus was already planted with azaleas. When President Ssu-nien Fu of NTU passed away from a sudden illness on December 20, 1950, the Fu Bell and the Fu Garden, both well-known campus landmarks, were created in his memory. In further commemoration, the university collected 250 azalea seedlings and planted them in various spots all over the campus. This was the beginning of the university’s large-scale cultivation of the blooms. • University Alma Mater The University has had four alma maters since its founding in 1928. The first alma mater was composed in 1940 (showa 15) when the Second Sino-Japanese War was at its peak; this political context had imbued the alma mater with a strong militaristic spirit. In 1947, when President Tse-hong Loh was in office, the university had an anthem that was composed by Mr. Ji-kun Cai, revered as the father of symphonic music in Taiwan, with lyrics written by Professor Shou-chang Syu, then Chairman of the Department of Chinese Literature, but it never prevailed on campus. During the period from 1952 to 1968 there was no official school song, and the Taiwanese ballad “Wang Chun Feng” (Looking Forward to Spring Breeze) was popular among students as an underground version. The current university alma mater, written by Professor Kang-po Shen, the late Dean of Liberal Arts, with music composed by Professor Yuen-ren Chao, who is known for his contributions to modern Chinese music, was officially announced in 1969. • University Motto – Integrity, Diligence, Fidelity, Compassion The eight Chinese characters Dun Pin, Li Xue, Ai Guo, Ai Ren (Integrity, Diligence, Fidelity, Compassion) were first articulated by President Ssu-nien Fu during the university’s fourth anniversary celebration on November 15, 1949. After the president’s sudden death in December 1950, the proposal was made at the University Affairs Meeting to use his words as the university motto, but was shelved at the time. During the following years, the eight characters were often invoked to encourage graduating students at commencement time, and were placed on the facade of the gymnasium in the 1970s. By this time deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of all NTU students, they were finally incorporated into the design of the school emblem in the early 1980s and became part of the official university motto. • University Emblem President Chao-chung Yu officially announced the university emblem during the celebration marking the school’s founding anniversary on November 15, 1982. The emblem’s central motif is the Fu Bell, with the Royal Palm, which is the university tree, in the background, conveying the idea 07 | 08 NTU HISTORY GALLERY of integrity and diligence. The palm fronds symbolize the abiding spirit of the university, while the figure of the plum blossom represents the concepts of fidelity and compassion. The thunder-and-cloud line pattern on the border further augments the spiritual ideals embodied therein. The Fu Bell, cast in memory of President Ssu-nien Fu, strikes 21 times to mark the beginning and end of each class in tribute to the president’s remark: “There are only 21 hours in a day, the remaining 3 hours being meant for reflection.” ◆Academic Achievements The presentation in this area provides a brief history and academic achievements of each of the eleven colleges.