Calligrapher Du Zhonggao passed away. The Ministry of Culture will submit a request to the President for an explicit order to commend him.

Du Zhonggao has not only created calligraphy for many years, but has also invested in calligraphy education, promotion and research. The Ministry of Culture will submit a formal commendation from the President to recognize his outstanding contribution to the development and inheritance of Taiwanese calligraphy. (Courtesy of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts)

[Reporter Ling Meixue/Taipei Report] Well-known calligrapher Du Zhonggao passed away on the 28th at the age of 78. The Ministry of Culture issued a press release today (29th) stating that upon learning of the news, Culture Minister Li Yuan expressed deep condolences and respect. He also pointed out that Du Zhonggao not only created calligraphy for many years, but also invested in calligraphy education promotion and research. The Ministry of Culture will submit a formal commendation to the President to recognize Du Chung-gao's outstanding contribution to the development and inheritance of Taiwanese calligraphy.

Du Zhonggao was born in Pitou Township, Changhua County in 1948. After graduating from Taiwan Provincial Taichung Normal College (now National Taichung Education University), he taught at Jiuzhuang Elementary School in Nangang District, Taipei City, and later entered the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at National Taiwan Normal University. , studied Chinese classics and laid a solid foundation of classical literature knowledge. In 1987, he studied at the Art Institute of the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and received a master's degree in art in 1990. In 2001, he obtained a doctorate in literature from the National Taiwan Normal University.

Du Zhonggao has been a calligrapher, scholar and educator throughout his life. In terms of teaching, he has taught at National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University of Arts, Beijing University of Arts and other tertiary institutions, and participated in the editing and review of "Calligraphy" textbooks for senior high schools; he also participated in the compilation of "Taiwan Art Classics Series - Calligraphy Art Volume - Du Tai Shuoyan." Hai Hai Yang Bo", and authored "Calligraphy Techniques 123", "Explanation Examples of Shaowen and Seal Script Corruption", "Research on the Evolution of Chinese Characters" and other works.

In terms of calligraphy creation, Du Zhonggao integrated various styles of seal, Li, Kai, Xing and Cao, encouraged the spirit of innovation and experimentation, and promoted calligraphy styles that were innovative in the times. He won the 18th National Literature and Art Award in 1992, the Sun Yat-sen Literature and Art Award, the first prize in the calligraphy department of the 36th Provincial Art Exhibition and permanent exemption from review, the 5th "Wu Sanlian Award" Art Award in the calligraphy category, etc. In 2016, he was awarded the Second Class Medal of Stars by the Presidential Palace.