He is known as an expert in folklore, an antiquarian and a collector. The aborigines of Lanyu (Orchid Island) off the southeast coast of Taiwan regard him as a friend. In professional life, he is known as a successful industrialist. Fifty-year-old Hsu Ying-chou, a native of Tainan County in southern Taiwan, where his father practised Chinese medicine, is happy to fill all these roles.
Hsu's business career started when he graduated from college and established trade connections with Japan, which he extended by making investments in several local companies. Now he is the manager of one company and vice-chairman of another.
Describing how he got started in collecting antiques, Hsu said: "When I was 25 years old, Taiwan was recovered by the Republic of China, and the Japanese were in a hurry to get back home. They had too many things to take with them, so they tried to sell them off at the auction houses in Chunghua Road in Taipei. I became curious, and managed to outbid my rivals for some of the antiques and old coins. When I got home, I studied them carefully."
Hsu's research brought him a great interest in antiques, which gave him a deep understanding of what the lives of his ancestors must have been like. He likes to study how shapes and colors of art objects change over the years, as graphically shown by the development of tea-drinking utensils.
Hsu explained: "The art of serving tea started in the Tang dynasty. White was the predominant color in ceramics at that time, but because it did not go well with the red color of the tea, kiln owners in Yueh Chou developed a green ware which became the most popular. Later, during the Sung Dynasty, when green tea came into vogue, Ching Hua ware was developed to go with it."
Hsu acquires his antiques in three ways, either from shops, through introductions to owners by friends, or by exploring himself. He pointed out that store owners have to make a profit, so they say everything they have is the best. Therefore, when he is buying from an antique store, Hsu personally inspects every piece. When he first started his collection Hsu was misled many times, and spent a lot of money on fakes. But now he regards this as just learning from experience.
As well as in Taiwan, Hsu obtains objects from Hong Kong, Japan and Southeast Asian countries, since wars and other disruptions resulted in a scattering of Chinese art objects. He said that the Chinese naturally understand their own antiquities better than foreigners, so that with just a little effort he could find good Chinese pieces in foreign countries.
Asked which piece he treasures most in his collection, Hsu merely says: "I have spent a lot of time and effort in assembling my collection, so I like them all. My preference may change from year to year, or even from month to month."
Hsu's desire to preserve aborigine artifacts started when he realized that many aborigines had abandoned their mountain homes to work in the cities as their standard of living improved after the return of Taiwan to the Republic of China. Hsu feels that their artifacts, including stone and wooden carvings, wooden implements, clothing, jewelry, pipes and knives, give a deeper understanding of the aborigines and their culture. In order to collect these objects, Hsu spends a lot of time with the aborigines, particularly the Yami of Orchid Island, who have preserved more of their ancient culture through being cut off from the modern world.
Hsu knows the background of all the 10,000 aboriginal pieces he has collected. As he conducts his research, he often finds mistakes in the books he reads and corrects them. When he first started his work with the Yami aborigines, he was faced with suspicion and language problems, but now he spends a week to 20 days every month on the remote island. While there, he joins in the aborigine customs, including eating taro and flying fish, and drinking rice wine. Hsu has earned the gratitude of the Yami by bringing them presents and sending sick members of the tribe to hospitals on the main island of Taiwan. For some of the older inhabitants, who have never left the island, Hsu pays for trips to Taitung, Pingtung, and other places in Taiwan.
The 20,000 pieces in Hsu's collection make it the biggest private one in Taiwan. Every day he tours the five-story building he has constructed to house the artifacts.
Hsu agrees that his money has helped him to build up his collection, but he also points to the patience, knowledge and love of antiques that has been required. He is always happy to show and explain his collection to visitors. But he always turns down offers to buy. "I have spent so much time, energy and money collecting these things because I want them to be kept together. If I left any of them go, how can I build up a comprehensive collection? "he asks.
Hsu's greatest ambition is to establish a private museum to display all the items he owns to the public. In this way, more and more people can become aware of the cultural artifacts which have been handed down to them by their ancestors.
[Picture Caption]
1) Hsu Ying-chou collects antiques in order to understand the cultural background of previous generations. Here he is seen measuring an aboriginal stone carving. 2) One of the pieces in Hsu Ying-chou's collection, a Kuanyin statue made by Shih Ta-ping during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty. 3) and 4) A Buddha image from the Northern Wei dynasty.
1) A teapot from the Chengte reign of the Ming dynasty. 2) Ming dynasty tripod, tea bowl, tea cup, and plate. 3) & 4) Yihsing teapots in the collection of Hsu Ying-chou. 5 ) A Chioachih three-color box for storing musk and other perfumes. 6) A Lungch'uan ware tripod from the Sung dynasty.
1) An antique jade elephant. 2) Ancient coins. 3) An ancient jade "pi". 4) A Chiaochih ware Kuanyin riding a ch'ilin. 5) Lungch'uan water pots from the Northern Sung. 6) A Han dynasty roof ornament.
1) Hsu Ying-chou not only collects Yihsing ware teapots, but is also interested in the art of tea. He and his wife often wear traditional clothing and enjoy a pot of tea. 2) A Yami Woman of Orchid Island photographed by Hsu Ying-chou. 3) A Paiwan marriage costume, including hat, vest, belt, and skirt. 4) A Paiwan wood carving. 5) A corner of the Hsu family living room. 6) Some of the beads in Hsu Ying-chou's collection.
One of the pieces in Hsu Ying-chou's collection, a Kuanyin statue made by Shih Ta-ping during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty.
A Buddha image from the Northern Wei dynasty.
A Buddha image from the Northern Wei dynasty.
A teapot from the Chengte reign of the Ming dynasty.
Ming dynasty tripod, tea bowl, tea cup, and plate.
Yihsing teapots in the collection of Hsu Ying-chou.
Yihsing teapots in the collection of Hsu Ying-chou.
A Chioachih three-color box for storing musk and other perfumes.
A Lungch'uan ware tripod from the Sung dynasty.
An antique jade elephant.
A Chiaochih ware Kuanyin riding a ch'ilin.
Lungch'uan water pots from the Northern Sung.
A Han dynasty roof ornament.
Hsu Ying-chou not only collects Yihsing ware teapots, but is also interested in the art of tea. He and his wife often wear traditional clothing and enjoy a pot of tea.
A Yami Woman of Orchid Island photographed by Hsu Ying-chou.
A Paiwan marriage costume, including hat, vest, belt, and skirt.
A corner of the Hsu family living room.
Some of the beads in Hsu Ying-chou's collection.
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