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Lot Essay
NOTE:
Rao Zhongyi (Jao Tsung-I) , born in Chao'an, Guangdong, is a Chinese scholar, poet, calligrapher and painter. A versatile scholar, he contributes to almost every field of the humanities. Born the son of a financier, Rao learned to write and compose poems from his father and began to publish his writings in books and magazines at a young age. In 1938, Zhongshan University was disrupted due to the Japanese invasion and was forced to move to Yunnan temporarily. Rao fell sick during his journey and ended up in Hong Kong, where he met fellow scholars Wang Yunwu and Ye Gongchao, and formally began his exploration in Chinese studies. Rao moved to Hong Kong in 1949 and taught at the University of Hong Kong from 1952 to 1968, and made the acquaintance of Professor Frederick Drake, then Head of Department.
In 1962, Rao was awarded the Prix Stanislas Julien from the Acad?mie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettre in France. From the years 1965 to 1966, he was a resident at the French National Scientific Research Centre, studying the London and Paris collection of Dunhuang mural sketches, and subsequently published his research results in Dunhuang baihua (Dunhuang Sketches). In 1978 he officially retired but has continued to lecture and hold painting exhibitions in France, Japan, USA, Singapore, Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Macau. He was an honorary professor at various universities in China and was received an honorary doctorate at many overseas universities. In December 1993, Rao was awarded a doctorate degree by the Sorbonne and received further accolade from the French Ministry of Culture.
Rao founded an academic periodical - Hua Xue in 1997 and received the first Visual Art Award organized by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. In 1998, he was awarded the Golden Dragon Award for Chinese Literature Artists. In 2000, he was presented with the Great Bauhinia Medal by the Hong Kong government for his academic contribution. In 2009, Rao was appointed by the Chinese government as a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History; in the same year Rao was given an honorary award by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for his lifelong contribution to the arts.
Rao Zhongyi (Jao Tsung-I) , born in Chao'an, Guangdong, is a Chinese scholar, poet, calligrapher and painter. A versatile scholar, he contributes to almost every field of the humanities. Born the son of a financier, Rao learned to write and compose poems from his father and began to publish his writings in books and magazines at a young age. In 1938, Zhongshan University was disrupted due to the Japanese invasion and was forced to move to Yunnan temporarily. Rao fell sick during his journey and ended up in Hong Kong, where he met fellow scholars Wang Yunwu and Ye Gongchao, and formally began his exploration in Chinese studies. Rao moved to Hong Kong in 1949 and taught at the University of Hong Kong from 1952 to 1968, and made the acquaintance of Professor Frederick Drake, then Head of Department.
In 1962, Rao was awarded the Prix Stanislas Julien from the Acad?mie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettre in France. From the years 1965 to 1966, he was a resident at the French National Scientific Research Centre, studying the London and Paris collection of Dunhuang mural sketches, and subsequently published his research results in Dunhuang baihua (Dunhuang Sketches). In 1978 he officially retired but has continued to lecture and hold painting exhibitions in France, Japan, USA, Singapore, Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Macau. He was an honorary professor at various universities in China and was received an honorary doctorate at many overseas universities. In December 1993, Rao was awarded a doctorate degree by the Sorbonne and received further accolade from the French Ministry of Culture.
Rao founded an academic periodical - Hua Xue in 1997 and received the first Visual Art Award organized by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. In 1998, he was awarded the Golden Dragon Award for Chinese Literature Artists. In 2000, he was presented with the Great Bauhinia Medal by the Hong Kong government for his academic contribution. In 2009, Rao was appointed by the Chinese government as a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History; in the same year Rao was given an honorary award by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for his lifelong contribution to the arts.