臺灣文學虛擬博物館

Yao Yi-wei (1922-1997), whose real name is Yao Gong-wei, grew up in Poyang, Jiangxi. In 1941, he was admitted to Xiamen University. He first studied electrical engineering and later transferred to the banking department. In order to avoid the war, Xiamen University moved to Changting, Fujian. The young Yao Yi-wei, who took the school as his home, also followed the school to Changting. During his studies at the university, Yao participated in theatrical performances, which made him fall in love with drama. Since the school could only provide him with limited knowledge of drama, he frequented the library to learn the subject by himself. He not only read a lot of European classics, but also wrote the first script “Feng Yu Ru Hui” in 1944. He was only 20 at that time; he then stepped into the world of creation. In the late 1950s, he began teaching at the National Institute of the Arts. In 1982, he retired early from the Bank of Taiwan and participated in the establishment of the National Institute of the Arts. He also served there as the first Director of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dean of Academic Affairs. In addition to teaching, Yao also actively devoted himself to practice in theater. In 1980, as the Chairperson of the Chinese Drama Performance Appreciation Committee, Yao founded the 1st “Experimental Theater Exhibition.” This theater exhibition was held five times from 1980 to 1984, which helped to train a large number of young talents in directing, and contributed to the development of Taiwan's modern theater. He wrote several scripts: From Phoenix Town, The Red Nose, Shen, Shen,Suitcase, etc. and books: The Notes of Poetics, Mysteries of Art, A Collection of Theatre Essays, etc.

Born in Poyang, Jiangxi. Original name was Yao Gong-wei.

Studied at Poyang Gaomen Elementary School.

Studied at Poyang Middle School.

Graduated from Poyang Middle School. Due to the war of resistance, he dropped out of school for a year and read several books during that period. Among them, Ai Siqi's Popular Philosophy aroused his interest in doing research.

Studied at Ji’an High School and moved to Suichuan with school.

Published “Shan Cheng Shi Duo”, “Season with Rain”, “Lin Zi”, “Nostalgia” and “Silence.”

Published “My Struggle” and “The Bright Moon of the Night.”

He was arrested for months without a reason and released one day before his college entrance exam. Later, he was admitted to the Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xiamen University.

Changed his major to banking.

“Shuxiezhe” was published in Gaijin magazine.

Translated “The White Mother” (written by Fyodor Sologub) and published in Xinzhishi Monthly.

Completed his first script Feng Yu Ru Hui, but did not publish it.

Began to comment on and translate with the pen name Yuan San-qian, and published novels and essays under the pen name Yao Yu.

Published “A Discourse on the ‘Master Builder’ (written by Henrik Johan Ibsen)”, “Grass”, “A Discourse on the Florodora Girl” and “Spring Silkworm.”

Graduated from Xiamen University and married Fan Xiao-lan.

Arrived in Taiwan and worked as a clerk in the Public Treasury Department at the Bank of Taiwan.

Published “Alcedo.”

Published “Country Wedding.”

Served as Deputy Chief of the Public Treasury Department at the Bank of Taiwan.

Arrested without a reason and detained.

Released and served as Chief of the Public Treasury Department at the Bank of Taiwan Banqiao Branch.

Translated Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer under the pen name Yao Yi-wei.

Translated The Master of Ballantrae by R. L. Stevenson.

Translated “The Golden House in the Poem” and published it in Shi Sui journal.

He was hired as a professor at the National Art School (renamed the National Taiwan Art College in 1960, and now the National Taiwan University of Arts), teaching the following courses: “The Principles of Drama”, “Modern Drama”, “Theatrical Art...

Joined the editorial board of Bi Hui Monthly.

Published the script “From Phoenix Town.”

Published the script From Phoenix Town.

Taught at the Department of Arts at Chinese Culture College (now Chinese Culture University College of Arts.)

Published the script “Sun, Fei Hu, the Snatcher of Wedding.”

The Notes of Poetics was published.

Served as Chairman of the Theatre Group of Arts Institute at Chinese Culture College, and transferred from the Bank of Taiwan Banqiao Branch to the head office.

Published the script “The Emerald Bodhisattva.”

The Emerald Bodhisattva won the Best Scenarist Award of the 4th Drama Golden Tripod Awards.

Published Mysteries of Art and won the 3rd Chun-shan Literature and Arts Award.

Published the script “The Red Nose.”

A Collection of Theater Essays was published.

The Emerald Bodhisattva was adapted by the Central Pictures Corporation to the film Jade Goddess of Mercy, and won the Best Picture of the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.

The Red Nose premiered at the Taipei College Youth Activity Center.

Joined the “International Writing Program” of the University of Iowa at the invitation of the United States Department of State.

The script “Shen, Shen” was published.

The English version of Shen, Shen: The Crown Prince Shen-Shen was published.

Published the script “Suitcase”.

The English version of Suitcase was published.

A Collection of Literary Essays was published.

The Six Plays of Yao Yi-wei was published.

Founded Literary Criticism with Hou Chien, Yang Mu, Yeh Wei-lien and Yeh Ching-ping.

The Collected Works of Yao Yi-wei was published.

Published the script “Fu, Ching-chu.”

Published Category Theory of Beauty and Fu, Ching-chu.

Served as the Editor-in-Chief of Modern Literature until 1984.

Published the script “Let’s Walk Together.”

Appreciation and Criticism was published.

Published “The Brilliant Flower of Drama: Written Before the First Experimental Theater Show”, “Why Do I Advocate the Experimental Theater: the Speech Before the Lanling Theater Workshop Night”, and the script “Zuo Bo-tao.”

Held the 1st “Experimental Theater Exhibition.”

Participated in the founding of the National Institute of the Arts (renamed Taipei National University of the Arts in 2001), and served there as the first Director of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dean of Academic Affairs.

The play The Red Nose was first staged at the China Youth Art Theatre in Beijing.

Retired early from the Bank of Taiwan.

Fan Xiao-lan passed away.

Received the Special Contribution Award of the 8th Fiction Award and Affiliated Prose Award of the United Daily News Group.

Married Li Ying-qiang.

Published the script “The Visitors.”

Drama and Literature was published.

Published the script “The Legend of the Tree God.”

Published the script “Ma Wei Yi” and Let’s Walk Together: The Five Plays of Yao Yi-wei.

Went to Gifu in Japan to watch the Japanese version of The Red Nose performed by GEAR Theatre.

Received the Drama Script Award of the 11th Wu San-lian Awards.

Talk about Life was published.

Prepared to launch the Journal of the National Institute of the Arts: Arts Review.

Served as the Artistic Director of, and along with Chen Ling-ling, directed the first self-made play The Red Nose of the National Theater. The play was performed in the same year.

The script “Miss X” was serialized in the Literary Supplement of China Times.

The Principles of Drama was published.

Retired from the National Institute of the Arts, but still taught part time in the Graduate Institute of Theatre Arts.

The Three Theories of Aesthetics was published.

Published the script “Restart.”

Published Miss X, Restart, and Drama and Life: A Collection of Yao Yi-wei’s Essays.

The English version of The Legend of the Tree God was published.

Provided guidance on the play Restart, which was performed in the Performing Arts Center at the National Institute of the Arts.

Art Criticism was published.

The English version of From Phoenix Town was published.

Passed away.

“Forgotten by Postmodernism: Reflections on The English Patient” and “Where Is Literature Going: From Modernism to Postmodernism” were published after he passed away.

The Department of Theatre Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts and Yao Yi-wei Art Foundation co-organized “The Seminar on the Death Anniversary of Mr. Yao Yi-wei.”

The Department of Theatre Arts and the Department of Theatrical Design & Technology at Taipei National University of the Arts and Yao Yi-wei Art Foundation co-organized the 10th death anniversary of Yao Yi-wei. The exhibition "Yi-wei Crossing the River: ...

The play Suitcase directed by her daughter Yao Hai-hsing was performed at the Performing Arts Center at Taipei National University of the Arts.

The Department of Theatre Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts and Yao Yi-wei Art Foundation co-organized the "Rebuild Taiwan’s Theater: Yao Yi-wei International Seminar" and founded the "Yao Yi-wei Drama Paper and Screenplay Award."

Huang Chien-yeh, Chang Chi-feng and Yang Chyi-wen from The Department of Theatre Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts jointly promoted the “Project on Yao Yi-wei, Wang Chi-mei and Lai Sheng-chuan’s Creative Drama Archives” and digitalized...

The National Museum of Taiwan Literature held "Let’s Walk Together: Yao Yi-wei Donation Exhibition."