He has never received any academic education, but his calligraphy is unmatched. His appearance is unprepossessing, but he has been chosen as the representative of good men and good deeds three times, and as a paragon of a good father and a good husband once each. He spent his life as a humble farmer, but all his 10 sons have received education above college level, and are prominent in politics, medicine and education. No wonder that Fan Cho-teng is looked up to by residents of his hometown, Kuanhsi in Hsinchu County in northwestern Taiwan, and by the people of the nation as a whole.

Backed by a small hill and facing green fields, Fan's house has a literary and unworldly atmosphere. Visitors are welcomed with a couplet displayed on the door, saying: "The wise and the virtuous share their pleasure among the mountains and green waters; clouds rising above the plains give an ethereal air."

Within the main gate, a stone bridge arches above a pond in which some white geese swim by in a leisurely fashion. Some may say that the Fan family's achievements are due to the good "omens" of their house. In fact, they have been made possible only by the strenuous effort and good management of Fan Cho-teng.

At the age of 90, Fan shows a mouthful of gold teeth as he grinned from ear to ear. He has been most praised for enabling all his 10 sons to receive higher education. "I have never been to school in my life, but I always hoped my sons could fulfill my dreams," he said in a mixture of Mandarin Chinese and the Hakka dialect. His parents died when he was only seven years old, and he was brought up by his uncle. As people did not attach much importance to education at that time, and his uncle could not afford to raise a total of four children, he only received a few years of instruction from private tutors.

His sons never let him down, however. One of the children's tutors recalled that Fan got up every day at 5 a.m. to study with his sons, and did not go to bed until the teacher and students had retired also. Whenever there was a blackout during the war, Fan held the torch himself to light the way for his sons.

"Knowledge is the greatest treasure one can have, so even if I have to sell my land and rice fields, I will make sure my sons receive the best education possible," he said confidently. He spent much time and effort in attaining his goal.

During the Japanese occupation of the island, Fan sent four of his older sons to receive education in Japan because at that time only a few local people managed to enter universities and colleges. "The more difficult conditions were, the harder we would try to study," he said. All he asked was that his sons should "stand out in the crowd."

In order to earn enough funds for his sons' education, Fan started an orange and orchid plantation. His wife, who has the conscientious, persevering and frugal qualities for which Hakka people are noted, helped him by vending vegetables. She said that besides taking care of the children she had to work with the men to earn some extra money for the family.

While they were struggling to overcome their economic difficulties, Fan had the good fortune to win the first prize in government lottery. He did not have to sell his land, after all. "Thank God," he said. But then he remembered: "Heaven helps those who help themselves."

While he was devoting all his efforts to educating his sons, some of his friends and relatives argued with him. They said that when his sons had achieved success after the completion of their education, they would forget their father and home. Events proved, however, that his labors were not in vain. All his 10 sons send money back home every month. Under his influence, his neighbors also began to think about giving their children higher education.

Of his 10 sons, the eldest, the second, and the youngest studied medicine and are working or teaching in medical colleges. His third and fifth sons, both graduates of the college of agriculture at the National Taiwan University, are working at the Examination Yuan, and running a ranch respectively. His fourth son studied law, and is currently working with an airline company, and the ninth teaches at the National Chung-hsing University, and is a practicing lawyer. His sixth son, Fan Kuan-huan, 48, studied politics in the United States, and is teaching at New York State University. His seventh son, Fan Kuan-yao, received his Master's degree on East Asian studies and library science in the United States, and is head of the Far East department of the New York University library. Fan Kuan-ti, 43, received his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy from Illinois and Hawaii Universities, and is currently teaching in Canada.

At his farm, Fan wrote down his principles in clear calligraphy. The inscription reads: "Do not offend your parents, considering where you come from. Do not pamper your children, because that would destroy them. Do not forget your old friends and neighbors, you may need them some day. Do not leave your job, otherwise you will have nothing to depend on..."

He is known as a "paragon of virtue" because he is always enthusiastic in philanthropic activities. He has been responsible building a bridge, a dining room at local primary school, and installing a bronze bust of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the Republic of China, from his own funds. Every winter for the past 40 years Fan has given rice to needy people.

His granddaughter said that he never spends any money on himself. He gives all the money his sons send him to any one who needs help.

Today, he still gets up at 5 a.m. to do calisthenics on the hill behind his home. Carrying a black umbrella to shade himself from the sun, he later walks round the town or cultivates his orchids. He never seeks for fame or fortune, instead preferring the warmth and love inspired by human contact.

[Picture Caption]

From left: The Fan's house, Fan and his wife, and Fan practicing Chinese calligraphy.

1. One of the bridges built by Fan Chao-teng. 2. The golden tablet saying "the modern Yenshan" compares Fan to Yenshan who brought up and educated five children in ancient times. 3. Though 90-years-old, Fan practices calisthenics every morning to stay in good health. 4. Fan still cultivates many valuable orchids, as he did formerly to earn the money to pay for his children's education.

Fan and his wife,.

and Fan practicing Chinese calligraphy.

One of the bridges built by Fan Chao-teng.

The golden tablet saying "the modern Yenshan" compares Fan to Yenshan who brought up and educated five children in ancient times.

Though 90-years-old, Fan practices calisthenics every morning to stay in good health.

Fan still cultivates many valuable orchids, as he did formerly to earn the money to pay for his children's education.