• 2020-10-05

On September 18, 2020, Director Dr. Mei-ting Huang, Fu Jen Catholic University's Monuments Serica Sinological Research Center was invited to the National Central Library to speak on “The Meeting of Artifacts, Religion, and Man: My Experience in Collecting.” An exhibition of her collection of ancient European artifacts was also held. Director Dr. Huang also donated a hand-written vellum scroll, an illustrated book of saints in French, and a document of being single from the Catholic church to NCL's collection.

Director Dr. Huang specializes in Utopian literature from Germany, German Catholic literature from the Middle Ages, and Sinological studies and translation theory by missionaries. She has spent many years promoting scholarly exchange between Europe and Taiwan, and is well respected worldwide. She has written several books, including Patterns of Unity: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue on the Thought of Chiara Lubich and The Tao and the German Utopian Literature in the 20th Century: As Examples of "Die drei Sprünge des Wang Lun" und "Die Stadt hinter dem Strom." In addition to scholarly research, Director Dr. Huang is also a collector of artifacts. Her area of collection is rather unique, as most items are related to the history of the Catholic church. Director Dr. Huang is a devout catholic and has deep feelings toward the relationship between artifacts and religious faith. These artifacts are not only symbols of history but also historical and cultural interpretations by men from different periods. Important items in Director Dr. Huang's collection include a Moroccan Quran box, a silver Catholic wall hanging of St. Paul and St. Peter, a dolium with the Lord's prayer on it, medieval European handbell, a bronze music box of Our Lady of Lourdes, 19^th century Belgian artist Ernest Cracco's illustration of Jesus, a 1650 vellum scroll of part of the Jewish law and Torah, a 1618 Catholic missal, Catholic documents from the 19^th century, a French illustrated book of saints’ stories, and an apostolic blessing plaque. Each item has some sort of unique connection with Director Dr. Huang and an interesting story.

NCL Director-General Shu-hsien Tseng stated in her remarks that in recent years NCL has diligently collected the manuscripts of and artifacts from contemporary persons of renown. NCL is very grateful for Director Dr. Huang's support of cultural heritages. In addition to complete preservation of precious artifacts, patrons worldwide have the ability to browse, admire, and research these items through searching the catalog system, which is the best promotion of social education.