Han Pao-teh

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Han Pao-teh
漢寶德
Han in 2006
Born19 August 1934
Shandong, China
Died20 November 2014(2014-11-20) (aged 80)
Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
EducationNational Cheng Kung University (BS)
Harvard University (MArch)
Princeton University (MFA)
OccupationArchitect
Spouse(s)Sharon Hsiao Han 蕭中行 (m.1965- died 1995)
Nina Sun 孫寧瑜 (m.1999-2014)
ChildrenKaren Han 漢可凡
Joseph Han 漢述祖
AwardsEducation Culture Medal
National Cultural Heritage Preservation Award
National Award for the Arts in Architecture
Executive Yuan National Cultural Award Medal

Han Pao-teh (Chinese: 漢寶德; pinyin: Hàn Bǎodé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hàn Pó-tek; 19 August 1934 – 20 November 2014) was a Taiwanese architect, educator, scholar, writer, museum curator and calligrapher.

Early life and education

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Han was born on August 19, 1934, in Shandong, China.[1] His family fled the Second Sino-Japanese War and, following the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War, ultimately moved to Taiwan during the Great Retreat in 1949. After migrating through Qingdao and Zhoushan, they settled in Zuoying, Kaohsiung, then moved to Penghu.[2]

Han was the eldest son of his family. After high school, he studied architecture at National Cheng Kung University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in 1958.[3][4] As a senior undergraduate, he founded an architectural design magazine, Shutters (百葉窗), dedicated to traditional Taiwanese architecture and, after graduation, worked as a teaching assistant at Cheng Kung.[2] He then won a full scholarship to complete graduate studies in the United States at Harvard University, where he earned a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1965. In 1967, he also earned a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in history and architecture from Princeton University.

Career

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Han was invited to return to Taiwan in 1967, and was appointed the Chair of the Department of Architecture at Tunghai University in Taichung, where he introduced a new system of education during his 10-year tenure.[2] He was the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at National Chung Hsing University from 1977 to 1981. In the late 70's he was credited to be the pioneer in the movement for the preservation of historic buildings in Taiwan [1]. He personally researched and directed the restoration projects of many important historical landmarks, including Changhua Confucius Temple [2], Lukang Longshan Temple [3], and the Lin Family Mansion in Banqiao.[5] Records and slides of his restoration projects including research and documentation are in the archives of the Department of Architecture at Tunghai University. For his contribution in Taiwanese architecture and architectural education, he was awarded the 2006 National Award for the Arts in Architecture [4][5].

During 1981–1986, Han Pao-teh was appointed by the Executive Yuan to lead the preparation and design of National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung. This is the first museum of its kind in Taiwan. He was appointed by the Ministry of Education to be its first director from 1986 to 1995. In 1994, he was awarded the Education-Culture Medal, highest honor from the Education Ministry of the Executive Yuan.

In 1993, Han Pao-teh was appointed by the Ministry of Education to design, build and establish Tainan National University of the Arts (TNNUA). He served as the first president/chancellor of TNNUA 1996–2000, and elected program chair of the graduate school of Museum Studies in 1996.

After his retirement from TNNUA in 2000, Han Pao-teh was invited by the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Foundation to be the first director and curator of the Museum of World Religions.

During 1998–2001, he was also the director of National Culture and Arts Foundation Archived 2006-09-03 at the Wayback Machine . A prolific author and columnist, he published over 40 books. Majority of his hand written drafts can be found in the archives of the Taiwan National Central Library.

As an accomplished Chinese Calligrapher, he had multiple personal exhibitions in museums and galleries in Taiwan, including three solo exhibitions at the National Museum of History in 2005, 2014 and 2024 [6].

Han Pao-teh was appointed national policy advisor of President Chen Shui-bian 2000-2008, and presidential advisor, the Geheimrat to President Ma Ying-jeuo from 2008 until his death in 2014.

Han Pao-teh died in Taipei, Taiwan, on 20 November 2014. He was posthumously given the Executive Yuan National Cultural Award[7], the nation's highest honor for persons with great contribution to art and culture of Taiwan.[6]

Han is commemorated in the scientific name of a species of Vietnamese lizard, Takydromus hani.[7]

Han Pao-teh Memorial Museum [8] was commissioned by his family and designed by his student Kris Yao at the Tainan National University of the Arts[9][10][11].

Selected Works of Architecture

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Major publications

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  • Han Pao-Teh, Han Pao-Teh's Narrative about Cultures, Artouch, 2006. ISBN 986-7519-84-1.
  • Han Pao-Teh, A Walk in European Architectures, Ecus Publishing House, 2005.
  • Han Pao-Teh, The Memoir of Han Pao-Teh, Book Zoom, 2004. ISBN 957-621-909-4.
  • Han Pao-Teh, Han Pao-Teh's Narrative about Aestheticism, Linkingbooks, 2004. ISBN 957-08-2703-3.
  • Han Pao-Teh, Expatiating on Architecture, Hebei Education Press, 2003. ISBN 7-5434-5034-8.
  • Han Pao-Teh, Looking into Architecture, Artbook, 2002. ISBN 986-7957-40-7.
  • Han Pao-Teh, Exhibition Planning: Theory and Practice, Archi, 2000. ISBN 957-8440-98-7.
  • Han Pao-Teh, Recent Reflections on Architecture and Culture, National Museum of History, 1995. ISBN 957-00-5923-0.
  • Han Pao-Teh, The Story of Chinese Landscape Design: External Forms and Internal Visions, Art Media Resources, Ltd., 1992. ISBN 978-957-530-356-3.
  • Han Pao-Teh, Museum Management, Garden City Publishers, 1990. ISBN 957-8440-96-0.
  • Han Pao-Teh, The Spiritual Dimensions of Architecture, Architecture Informations, 1971. ISBN 957-0454-31-8.
  • Han Pao-Teh, Architecture, Society and Culture, Architecture Informations, 1971. ISBN 957-0454-11-3.

Major Solo Exhibitions

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  • The Wold of Calligraphy Art-- Han Pao-Teh's modern expression, 11/30/2024 - 02/23/2025, National Museum of History, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • The Architecture of Han Pao-Teh: Form, Color and Texture of Beauty, 11/29/2024 - 02/23/2025, National Taiwan Museum, Main Xianyang Building, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Highlights of Mr. Han, 11/20/2024 - 12/29/2024, Museum of World Religions, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
  • Building Humane Worlds: A retrospective on Han Pao-Teh, 10/24/2014 - 12/07/2014, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition by Han Pao-Teh, 06/25/2008 - 09/30/2008, Museum of World Religions, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
  • Mild but Tasteful: A dialogue with Han Pao-Teh, 06/20/2007 - 07/22/2007, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Han Pao-teh.

https://event.culture.tw/mocweb/reg/NMH/ExhibitionDetail.init.ctr?actId=40046&utm_source=moc&utm_medium=query&utm_campaign=40046&request_locale=en&useLanguage=en

https://www.ntm.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=5713&s=228795

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https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2022/11/13/2003788814

https://www.moc.gov.tw/en/News_Content2.aspx?n=479&s=17430

https://taiwantoday.tw/news_amp.php?unit=18&post=24113


References

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  1. ^ "Architect | Han Pao-teh". Ministry of Culture. 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  2. ^ a b c Han Cheung (13 November 2022). "Taiwan in Time: The many faces of a famous architect". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  3. ^ China (Taiwan), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of (2014-11-24). "Renowned Taiwan architect dies at 80". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 2025-08-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ China (Taiwan), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of. "https://taiwantoday.tw/culture/taiwan-review/a-postmodern-traditionalist". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 2025-08-25. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Dingbo Wu (1994). Handbook of Chinese Popular Culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 341–. ISBN 978-0-313-27808-2.
  6. ^ "Executive Yuan honors contributors to national culture". Taipei Times. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  7. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Han, p. 115).
  8. ^ "Taiwan Culture Portal - Nan Yuan stands out as Taiwan's architectural gem". Archived from the original on 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2013-06-29.