SDG4
Encountering Zhi-Fan Chen at NCKU – Gratitude to Heaven: A Centennial Commemorative Exhibition of Zhi-Fan Chen’s Works
No matter what it is, what I have received from others is far too much, and what I have given from myself is far too little.
Because there are too many people to thank, I will simply thank Heaven. — Gratitude to Heaven / Zhi-Fan Chen
For those who grew up in Taiwan or are familiar with the Chinese-speaking world, the name Zhi-Fan Chen is no stranger. Many have read his essays such as Gratitude to Heaven, In the Spring Breeze, The Rootless Orchid, and The Lonely Gallery. His prose has accompanied countless people through their youth, inspiring generations of students to imagine the world of literature.
A scientist by training yet celebrated internationally as a literary figure, Professor Zhi-Fan Chen embodied the fusion of science and the humanities. From 1993 to 2002, he served as a visiting professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), forging deep bonds with the university’s faculty and students over a decade. In 2009, NCKU launched the “Zhi-Fan Chen Archive Preservation Project,” through which a precious collection of his manuscripts and memorabilia came into the university’s care.
This year marks the centennial of Professor Chen’s birth — August 8, 2025 — and in conjunction with the theme “Reflecting on the Past, Treasuring the Present, and Looking to the Future,” NCKU Library is presenting the “Gratitude to Heaven: A Centennial Commemorative Exhibition of Zhi-Fan Chen’s Works from the Library Collection”, opening on his birthday to honor his remarkable contributions to education and literature.
The exhibition showcases not only the library’s holdings of Professor Chen’s published works but also treasured artifacts including his letters, manuscripts, and photographs. Running from August 8 to October 15, 2025, in the East Wing multifunctional reading area on the 1st floor of the NCKU Library, the display is organized into thematic sections: A Life in Timeline – Highlighting significant milestones alongside representative works from each period; Radiant Memories – A photo gallery that brings Professor Chen’s image vividly back to life; The Scientist Zhi-Fan Chen – Featuring his important translations in the scientific field; Different Echoes – A gratitude wall inviting visitors to share, in their own handwriting, memories and reflections on how Professor Chen influenced their lives and taught them the meaning of gratitude.
During the exhibition, on September 18 from 6:30–7:00 p.m., the library will host Professor Ming-Jer Tang, Distinguished Professor at NCKU’s Department of Physiology and convener of the 2009 Zhi-Fan Chen Archive Preservation Project, to speak about his personal friendship with Professor Chen. From 7:00–9:00 p.m., Professor Yuan-Fang Tung — Professor Chen’s wife, a renowned translator, and current Chair Professor at Tunghai University — will give a talk entitled “Heaven’s Face and Ocean’s Hue: Reading Zhi-Fan Chen”, sharing how his life and literature shaped his creative work. Through this combination of exhibition and lectures, NCKU hopes to bring students and the public closer to this internationally acclaimed literary figure, and, through one of his best-known works, Gratitude to Heaven, inspire all visitors to carry a heart full of thankfulness. For more details, please visit the NCKU Library website.
Because there are too many people to thank, I will simply thank Heaven. — Gratitude to Heaven / Zhi-Fan Chen
For those who grew up in Taiwan or are familiar with the Chinese-speaking world, the name Zhi-Fan Chen is no stranger. Many have read his essays such as Gratitude to Heaven, In the Spring Breeze, The Rootless Orchid, and The Lonely Gallery. His prose has accompanied countless people through their youth, inspiring generations of students to imagine the world of literature.
A scientist by training yet celebrated internationally as a literary figure, Professor Zhi-Fan Chen embodied the fusion of science and the humanities. From 1993 to 2002, he served as a visiting professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), forging deep bonds with the university’s faculty and students over a decade. In 2009, NCKU launched the “Zhi-Fan Chen Archive Preservation Project,” through which a precious collection of his manuscripts and memorabilia came into the university’s care.
This year marks the centennial of Professor Chen’s birth — August 8, 2025 — and in conjunction with the theme “Reflecting on the Past, Treasuring the Present, and Looking to the Future,” NCKU Library is presenting the “Gratitude to Heaven: A Centennial Commemorative Exhibition of Zhi-Fan Chen’s Works from the Library Collection”, opening on his birthday to honor his remarkable contributions to education and literature.
The exhibition showcases not only the library’s holdings of Professor Chen’s published works but also treasured artifacts including his letters, manuscripts, and photographs. Running from August 8 to October 15, 2025, in the East Wing multifunctional reading area on the 1st floor of the NCKU Library, the display is organized into thematic sections: A Life in Timeline – Highlighting significant milestones alongside representative works from each period; Radiant Memories – A photo gallery that brings Professor Chen’s image vividly back to life; The Scientist Zhi-Fan Chen – Featuring his important translations in the scientific field; Different Echoes – A gratitude wall inviting visitors to share, in their own handwriting, memories and reflections on how Professor Chen influenced their lives and taught them the meaning of gratitude.
During the exhibition, on September 18 from 6:30–7:00 p.m., the library will host Professor Ming-Jer Tang, Distinguished Professor at NCKU’s Department of Physiology and convener of the 2009 Zhi-Fan Chen Archive Preservation Project, to speak about his personal friendship with Professor Chen. From 7:00–9:00 p.m., Professor Yuan-Fang Tung — Professor Chen’s wife, a renowned translator, and current Chair Professor at Tunghai University — will give a talk entitled “Heaven’s Face and Ocean’s Hue: Reading Zhi-Fan Chen”, sharing how his life and literature shaped his creative work. Through this combination of exhibition and lectures, NCKU hopes to bring students and the public closer to this internationally acclaimed literary figure, and, through one of his best-known works, Gratitude to Heaven, inspire all visitors to carry a heart full of thankfulness. For more details, please visit the NCKU Library website.
In line with the exhibition theme “Reflecting on the Past, Treasuring the Present, and Looking to the Future,” the NCKU Library is hosting “Gratitude to Heaven: A Centennial Commemorative Exhibition of Zhi-Fan Chen’s Works from the Library Collection.”
Exhibition of Professor Zhi-Fan Chen’s essay collections.
A corner of the exhibition “Gratitude to Heaven: A Centennial Commemorative Exhibition of Zhi-Fan Chen’s Works from the Library Collection.”
Visitors are invited to share how Professor Zhi-Fan Chen’s works have influenced them.
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