Campus Digest

Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology’s “A Reunion of Seals and Seal-Impression Albums” exhibition celebrates HKBU’s 70th anniversary

Friday, 8 May 2026

The Opening Ceremony of “A Reunion of Seals and Seal-Impression Albums: Joint Exhibition of the Chung Jam Hin and Shiqi Caotang Collections,” hosted by the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology (JAS) at HKBU, was held on 4 May. The exhibition brings together for the first time the treasured collections of Mr Lam Cheung-chung of Chung Jam Hin and Mr Ling Xiang of Shiqi Caotang, featuring over 100 rare seal-impression albums and more than 600 precious seals spanning the 500-year period from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present. This special exhibition holds unique significance as it is a meaningful cultural tribute coinciding with HKBU’s 70th anniversary.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included collectors Mr Lam Cheung-chung and Mr Ling Xiang; Professor Shi Xiejie and Dr Shi Jicheng of Fudan University; as well as HKBU representatives including Professor Martin Wong, Provost; Professor Chen Zhi, Director of JAS; and Ms Bethany Wilkes, Deputy University Librarian. The event was also attended by local and overseas scholars and guests from the cultural sector.

During his welcome address, Professor Chen Zhi noted that writing is not merely a tool for recording but the very foundation for the transmission of civilisation, and that the study of epigraphy carries the trajectory of Chinese civilisation and the spirit of the literati. Following the exhibition “Collected Impressions: Albums of Seal Impressions from the Chung Jam Hin Collection” in 2017, this exhibition represents a further step forward in scale and scope, reinforcing the Academy’s continued dedication to epigraphic research.

Representing the collectors, Mr Ling Xiang delivered a speech in which he fondly recalled the deep bond he formed with HKBU when he was a student at Fudan University, noting that this visit had only strengthened the friendship. He stated that this joint exhibition with Mr Lam Cheung-chung represents not only a reunion of their treasured collections but also a cross-generational continuation of the epigraphic legacy. He emphasised that both collectors share the philosophy of transforming private holdings into public assets, in the hope that their precious items can find their way beyond the studios and give back to the academic community.

The exhibition is conceived under the curatorial theme of “a fusion of seal-impression albums and seals”, allowing visitors to appreciate both the inked impressions on paper and the physical seals on display. Within this intimate space, viewers can gain an immediate and intuitive understanding of the evolution of seal carving art and its tradition of connoisseurship, providing an invaluable empirical resource for the study of seal scholarship.

The Academy will host four academic talks, inviting experts and scholars to discuss topics ranging from seal impression catalogue documentation and ancient seal studies to the decipherment of seal characters and the art of seal carving. Taster Day will also be organised, featuring interactive activities to bring the beauty of epigraphy closer to the public and to foster cultural exchange between the University and the wider community.

Exhibition Details:

Date: 4 to 29 May 2026 (except the public holiday on 25 May)

Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday to Sunday)

Venue: Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology, Hong Kong Baptist University (Level 7, Shaw Tower, Shaw Campus, 34 Renfrew Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong)

Free Admission.