Tai Jing-Nong（臺靜農）

TAI Jing-Nong (1902–1990) was a major twentieth-century Chinese literary scholar, writer, and calligrapher, whose life closely reflected the experience of the May Fourth generation intellectuals who later relocated to Taiwan. After arriving in Taiwan in 1946, he taught at the Department of Chinese Literature at National Taiwan University, where he later served as department chair for over two decades, profoundly influencing Taiwan’s postwar humanities education. In addition to his achievements in literature, TAI is widely regarded as one of the most important modern literati calligraphers. The lettering of National Taiwan University’s current logo was derived from his calligraphy, demonstrating the enduring significance of his artistic style. Deeply rooted in the tradition of Chinese stele studies, TAI Jing-Nong absorbed influences from Han and Wei dynasty inscriptions, archaic cursive script, and the calligraphic traditions of the Jin and Tang dynasties. He developed a distinctive style marked by vigorous brushwork, spacious composition, and a profound sense of cultural refinement. His calligraphy balances the rugged strength of epigraphy with the elegance of literati aesthetics, emphasizing restraint, inner spirit, and scholarly depth rather than decorative beauty.