The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to exhibit the work of the late patriot-writer and literature critic Tang Wen-Biau donated by his family. Mrs. Tang and her son, Tang Hon Jen, were generous enough to donate Tang's selected correspondences and personal collections to the College Library, amounting to 1,300 pieces in all. Mrs. Tang hoped that by donating her husband's works to Library at the College Humanities and Social Sciences his ideas can continue to inspire future generations.

Vice President Chang and Head Librarian Zhuan expressed their gratitude and promised that NTHU would take good care of the collections and put them to good use. Professor Chen, Director of the Institute of Taiwan Literature pointed out that the Institute and its students are the key beneficiaries of this generous donation.

Fifty pieces of Tang's collections are currently on exhibition, including the majority of Tang's books and writings. According to Professor Chen, who provided the guided tour, Tang studied literature in Hong Kong before he went to the U.S., where he was awarded his Ph.D. in mathematics. In 1970, he participated in the Diaoyutai Islands Movement, considered by many to be the beginning of his fervent social activism. After he returning to Taiwan, he continued his social discourses on modern Taiwanese literature, as well as cultural and political topics. In the 1980s he began writing commentaries on Eileen Chang’s work which drew attention from Taiwanese literati, who were surprised by the vitality and multiplicity of his work.

In the panel discussion following the opening ceremony, scholars and writers discussed Tang's contributions to Taiwanese literature. Professor Lu of Tamkang University remarked that in the 1970s he had once delved into Taiwanese modern poetry written by twenty-some poets but failed to be impressed. He stayed away from poetry until he read the works by Tang and Huan, who were openly critical about other Taiwanese poets' work.

Professor Huang of NTU, a good friend of Tang's commented that it is time for young Taiwanese to know Tang's work because he was once ostracized and alienated during a time when Taiwan was cut off from the rest of the world. "His compassion, his devotion to social justice exude from his words and linger on even thirty years later," Huang said.

Mr. Huang Chun-Ming, a famous writer, recollected that Tang was such a conscientious scholar that he once visited him at his home just to apologize to him for the wrong criticisms he had launched against his work "The Taste of an Apple."

Professor Liu of the Chinese Literature Department said that through Tang's work we can now see the real Tang Wen-Biau. "He was not only critical of others' work, he was also critical of his own modern poems," he said. "Not exactly classical in a strict sense of words, his work, however, embraces passion and vitality that might have to do with his fervent involvement of Diaoyutai Islands Movement."

"Tang Collections" exhibit ends on March 31, 2010. Please see http://www.lib.nthu.edu.tw/guide/exhibits_and_events/tangwenbiao/index.htm for more information.