A minister of Tianshui
Though there has been praise for Huizong's artistic achievements, and there are scattered references in old documents to his accomplishments, up to the present time there has been no systematic account of his enormous contribution to Chinese culture and heritage. So Ricardo Joppert has made it his mission to compile such a work, building on all of his many connections with China. On his return to Taiwan, four decades after his first visit, he made a special trip to the town of Tucheng to have a personal seal made with characters meaning "a minister of Tianshui." The Song imperial clan, surnamed Zhao, came from a place called Tianshui in Gansu, so naturally the "minister of Tianshui" is none other than Ricardo Joppert himself.
Asked why he has chosen to publish his work on Huizong in French and first in Paris, Ricardo Joppert explains that back in 1998 and 1999, the special exhibition of works from the National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taipei that was on display in Paris created a sensation. Many of the works shown were from the Song dynasty, and guides pointed out that Emperor Huizong is considered to be the founder of the current NPM collection. In recent years, the portrait of Huizong has been a common sight in Paris, and Westerners have had a chance to get to know this great historical figure. That is why Joppert chose to bring his book out in Paris, to follow up on this awareness and to give people a chance to understand Huizong even more deeply.
Joppert's other new book, published in English, recounts his own "Taiwan experience." After his first visit to Taiwan at age 16 in 1958, he wrote a book called Taiwan Journal in which he described his personal experiences, as well as the situation in and historical background to Taiwan at that time. In 2000, he returned to Taiwan at the invitation of the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation as a visiting scholar. His forthcoming book, entitled Taiwan Revisited, records his thoughts on what he saw in Taiwan as well as the changes in Taiwan over the last 40 years. From the observations of contemporary Taiwan by this unique sinologist, who has been fated to have such a deep relationship with Taiwan and an understanding of Chinese culture, we can be expected to acquire a different understanding of this land.
Chihnan Temple dreams
Ricardo Joppert is an idealist who never compromises. Although he has been to Taiwan only twice in his life, and stayed for only one month each time, his impression of Taiwan is detailed and profound. He recalls that on his first visit, he spent a day at Chihnan Temple in southern Taipei, and was fascinated by it, deciding to become a follower of Taoism. At that time he asked if he could spend a night in the temple, but his guides did not think it appropriate and his mother did not agree, so he had to give up the idea. Forty years later, he finally realized his wish. He stayed one night in the Chihnan Temple, and even had a strange experience, having a dream about Emperor Huizong.
Another place that he hoped to visit when he first came was Kinmen, but the situation was too dangerous in those days. This time, after doing research at the NPM, the Museum of History, and the Institute of History and Philology at the Academia Sinica, he found time to travel to Kinmen.
Asked when he plans to return and what he might do if he does, he simply smiles, leaving it all up to fate. However, his new books, which are scheduled in come out in Paris in March, will later be released in Taiwan. Through these books, he has brought the spirit and works of Huizong across the centuries, so that everyone, East and West, will have an opportunity to re-evaluate this tragic hero and cultural giant. Moreover, through these books we can see the "loyal minister" who is trying to rehabilitate Hui-zong's reputation, Ricardo Joppert.